General News
5 November, 2025
Counting on un-bee-lievable diversity
AUSTRALIAN Pollinator Week calls on all Australians to celebrate the remarkable diversity of Australia’s pollinators, which are vital to keeping Australia’s landscapes thriving.
The theme for this year’s national week of awareness is 'Celebrating Diversity: Spotlighting pollinators of every shape and size,' encouraging action to support Australia’s more than 2000 species of native bees, along with hoverflies, moths, butterflies, beetles, and other pollinators.
The nine-day festival, which kicks off on November 8, encourages communities to consider the critical role of pollinators in the environment and to participate in various activities, including the Australian Pollinator Count, Pollinator Picnics, webinars, and more.
Locals in Western Victoria can also download planting guides, useful for both farmers and town residents, that are tailored for the Mallee, Grampians, and Western District.
Australian Pollinator Week was founded in 2015 by Australian native bee specialist Dr Megan Halcroft to grow awareness of the importance of insect pollinators.
“Australian Pollinator Week encourages communities to connect and appreciate the vital role pollinators play in sustaining biodiversity,” Dr Halcroft said.
“Every year I’m impressed by how simple actions, such as planting native flowers or creating habitat, can have a big impact.”
Australian Pollinator Week is coordinated by the Wheen Bee Foundation, and chief executive, Fiona Chambers, said she was pleased to see the national week continue to grow.
An annual highlight of the celebrations is the Australian Pollinator Count, which encourages citizen scientists across the country to observe and record pollinator activity in their local area.
“The Australian Pollinator Count helps us understand the status of local pollinators and make informed decisions to safeguard their wellbeing and the health of our ecosystems,” Ms Chambers said.
The Australian Pollinator Count is an annual long-term project to monitor the status and trends of insect pollinator populations.
People across the country are encouraged to participate by heading outside, taking 10 minutes to record the insect pollinators they see, and registering their results online.
A Pollinator Count Guide and quiz are available online to help identify different types of insects found in backyards, community gardens, and farms.
Find out more at: www.australianpollinatorweek.org.au/count.
Download the Powerful Pollinators resources at www.wheenbeefoundation.org.au/our-work/projects/powerful-pollinators.