Bird enthusiasts and residents are joining Biosecurity Queensland's hunt for Asian honey bee nests in the suburbs of Cairns.
Biosecurity Queensland has welcomed the extra eyes to help locate roosts of the rainbow bee-eater bird which will in turn help track down Asian honey bee nests and swarms in the city area.
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries senior operations manager, Scott Templeton, a keen birdwatcher himself, is calling on his bird contacts to help in the Asian honey bee response.
Birds Australia North Queensland members have been taking to the streets with binoculars looking for bee-eater roosts.
"Now that we have detected Asian honey bee nests in Parramatta Park and Bungalow, I would like to find bee-eater roosts in the city area to help us get a line on other nests nearby," Mr Templeton said.
"This means looking for roosts in parks and backyards, so we have asked residents to see if the bee-eaters are roosting in trees in their yards.
"The birds flock to their roosts at dusk, usually 5.30 pm or 6 pm.
"Locating rainbow bee-eater roosts is important for two reasons.
"Firstly, it helps us to track their flight direction which is usually to their food source, which may have included a diet of Asian honey bees.
"Secondly, in the morning we are able to collect the pellets of indigestible bee remains that they cough up overnight. The remains include bee wings and our entomologists will be able to determine if Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) are present.
"These remains are sent away for further testing."
DPI&F local controller Pat Kalinowski said recent publicity about the bees in the city had created huge interest in the community.
"We received a jump in public reporting," he said.
"Many people have either come in with specimens or have sent us some excellent photographs of what is in their backyards.
"None of the specimens we have seen so far have been A. cerana, but it is important for us to see what is out there.
"We will be pleased to supply residents with a photograph comparing the Asian honey bee to the European honey bee (Apis mellifera)."
People who believe they have rainbow bee-eater roosts in their yards or have seen Asian honey bees are asked to contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.