Amazing animals – native bees with Dr Elise Oakman

It’s time to get buzzing, with five fun and fascinating fast facts about Australian native bees, an interview with Dr Elise Oakman, a scientist who knows a lot about Australian insects, and a cosy insect hotel activity for you to try yourself at home.

Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.

Buy tickets for ‘Creative Science: Mind Blown’ at Sydney Fringe 2026: https://sydneyfringe.com/events/creative-science-mind-blown/

Support the podcast to keep it ad-free! https://buymeacoffee.com/creativescience

Join the email list: https://www.creativescience.com.au/contact/

Creative Science: https://www.creativescience.com.au

Facebook: @creativescienceaustralia

Instagram: @creative_science_australia

Episode content:

00:00 2026 Sydney Fringe Festival show ‘Creative Science: Mind Blown’

00:17 Introduction and fast facts

05:55 Interview with Dr Elise Oakman

09:25 Insect hotel activity

Bug Hunt Australia: https://bughunt.org.au/

Insect hotel activity

You will need:

• an empty milk carton or juice carton;
• lots of thick and thin paper straws to fill the empty carton;
• some sticks, leaves, and bark from a garden or park;
• cotton string or jute twine

1. Ask an adult to help you open one end or cut off one end of the carton. Make sure you keep the other end of the carton closed.
2. Stand the straws up in the carton and use leaves, sticks, and bark to fill in any gaps between the straws. Make sure the straws are pushing against the closed end of the carton and pack the other things tightly, so the straws won’t fall out of the carton.
3. Choose a place to hang your insect hotel. The open ends of the straws should face North or North-East so they get some morning sun, but make sure the insect hotel is protected from direct sunlight in the middle of the day.
4. Tie the string or twine around the insect hotel and tie it to a tree, fence, or post. Make sure the open ends of the straws are angled down a little bit so they don’t fill with rain, or you can try making a little roof to stop rain and dew going into the straws.

What’s happening?

Female solitary bees can make nests in closed tubes like the straws in this insect hotel. They make the first cell in the closed end of the tube, laying an egg and leaving food for the hatching lava, before sealing the cell with some wax. The bee can then add more cells along the length of the tube.