Is this a bee?
September 7, 2009
This insect was photographed in in early September, it looks a lot like a digger bee but it’s eyes are brown and not green. I have searched the net and all of my bug books but can’t ID it! Help!
Thanks, Rhonda
Tucson, AZ
Digger Bee
Hi Rhonda,
Our first inclination is that this is some species of Carpenter Bee, but it doesn’t match the images on BugGuide. We will check with Eric Eaton who may be able to assist in the ID.
Correction from Eric Eaton
Daniel:
Wow, what a fantastic image of a very active bee, a female in the genus Centris, family
Apidae. I hope Rhonda considers posting this to Bugguide, as we have few high-quality images of this genus. Dr. John Ascher is an expert on bees, and he visits Bugguide frequently.. He could probably identify this specimen to species. Centris bees are solitary, like the overwhelming majority of native bee species, each female digging her own nest burrow.
Eric
Daniel,
Thanks for the prompt reply- and thank you and Eric Eaton for the ID- wonder how he knew it is female, amazing! If you want to post this image to Bugguide, you have my permission to do so, if you need a higher res photo just let me know (please include photo credits). Thank you again for the help.
Rhonda Spencer
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Posted 08 September 2009
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Kind of Cicada?
September 1, 2009
Dear Bugman,
This bug appeared in my backyard for the first time this year. We’ve lived in the house for 6 years. My wife though bee family, I’m thinking cicada. Verdict?
Mickey
Encino, CA
Valley Carpenter Bee
Hi Mickey,
This golden green-eyed male Valley Carpenter Bee differs significantly from his sexually dimorphic, black mate. The larger female Valley Carpenter Bee lives longer and visits flowers to gather pollen and nectar to feed her brood.
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Posted 01 September 2009
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Chinese mantis feeds on carpenter bee
August 13, 2009
Hi bugman! I took these shots about a year ago and have been meaning to send them to you. I was sitting on my porch and saw some something moving in my mom’s garden. Then I went down to check it out and to my surprise there was this little guy eating a carpenter bee. I hope you like my pics. P.S. Love your site!
Alex Busato, age 10
Southwest PA
Chinese Mantid eats Carpenter Bee
Hi Alex,
Thanks for sending us your photos of a Chinese Mantid, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis, feeding on a Carpenter Bee. This is an excellent addition to our Food Chain section.
Chinese Mantid east Carpenter Bee
Bumblebee-like Hovering
Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 7:03 PM
This is mid-April in Concord, CA. These guys seem to stake out a territory. This one hovers near the potted Asparagus Fern and the geraniums. Another hovers around the white Lilac. They chase others of the same species and then come back to their hover spot. They are there all day, day after day. They are quite bumblebee like, in that they are black with yellow thorax and shiny black abdomen. They make a buzzing sound and they don’t seem at all aggressive or concerned about human presence. There are citrus trees in bloom on the property, though not sure these are active in those flowers.
ApU
Concord, CA 94520
Carpenter Bee
Dear ApU,
Your photo resembles a Carpenter Bee and the behavior you describe is similar to the behavior we have witnessed in male Valley Carpenter Bees staking out territory and hoping to attract mates, but male Valley Carpenter Bees are an overall lovely golden color. We consulted BugGuide, and we believe your specimens are a related species, Xylocopa tabaniformis.
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Posted 22 April 2009
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what kind of bug is this!!!
Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 4:19 PM
i found this bug sitting on the walkway to my house. it’s march 4, 2009. i already have a scorpion infestation. i don’t want to look forward to something else. please help me identify what kind of bug this is. and also, if you have any tips of getting rid of scorpions, do tell!!!
lacey micallef
chandler, arizona
Valley Carpenter Bee
Hi Lacey,
This is a harmless male Valley Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa varipuncta. The female is larger and black. If Valley Carpenter Bees become extremely plentiful in an area, the females may cause damage to wood if large numbers of them carve brood burrows in structures. Telephone poles are quite attractive as nesting sites. We don’t offer extermination advice.
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Posted 05 March 2009
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Green Lynx with Bee
Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 10:42 AM
I found this photo from last August on my camera. Taken near Charlotte, NC.
This is a Green Lynx eating what I think is a Carpenter Bee.
It must be their favorite catch as there already is a picture of this on your site.
Great site,
Bob
Cornelius , NC, USA
Green Lynx eats Carpenter Bee
Hi Bob,
Maybe you never had a chance to print your photo of a healthy female Green Lynx Spider feeding on a Carpenter Bee, but at least it is now online for the world to view. Green Lynx spiders often wait for prey by perching on blossoms, so they eat many pollinating insects.
Male Carpenter Bee
Hey guys, thanks again for the website. I concur with everyone who says they love it. Here are some pics of a Male Carpenter Bee, as you can see the white patch on his face. These were taken back in April of ‘06. I was able to get SUPER close to him. The reason for this is that he wouldn’t move; it’s like he was hibernating. Would you know what reasons there might be for him not moving? Asleep? It was also early in the morning(7:30) and was pretty cold. He was not far from his nest as my apartment has wooden stairs and the bee’s nest was in those stairs. Thanks for any help you can give.
Adam S.
Olathe, KS 38°52′51″N, 94°48′11″W
Male Eastern Carpenter Bee
Hi Adam,
We had been meaning to respond and post your letter sooner, but the duties of posting got away from us this past weekend. Your photo of a male Eastern Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa virginica, is a welcome addition to our archives. According to BugGuide: “Large, black hairless abdomen, yellow pile on thorax. Males have yellow/white face. Common in eastern North America, and the only member of its genus in much of range.” The sluggish behavior you describe is probably a result of the cool morning since bees need warmth to become active. Also, it he was newly metamorphosed, he might have never attempted flight. Warmth is a consideration either way.
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Posted 03 October 2008
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What bug would make this hole?
Hi,
I live in Southern California. Over the weekend, I noticed sawdust on a bougainvillea plant in my backyard. It runs along a concrete wall that borders my neighbors property. The sawdust was the result of these perfectly round, pencil erasure sized holes which have been recently dug into the plant. What bug would do this? Thanks,
Chuck
Hi Chuck,
This is the nest of a Valley Carpenter Bee. The large black female bee makes and provisions the nest. The male bee is a lovely golden color. The Valley Carpenter Bee is an important native pollinating species, and the presence of this nest will not do any lasting harm to your bougainvillea.
Thank you so much for your informative reply. I am pleased your site exists. In explaining the harmlessness of this important native pollinator, you have helped me from making a grave, unnecessary mistake of adding a systemic poison to my bougainvillea the way a member of the Home Depot gardening staff suggested to protect it from “wood boring beetles”. I’m glad I had the presence of mind to contact you but I am more pleased at your willingness to share your expertise on this subject and the timeliness of your answer. Thanks again,
Chuck
Monrovia, CA
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Posted 02 June 2008
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Carpenter Bee in Flight, New Hope, PA
I was able to get some pretty neat action shots of this carpenter bee as it kept returning to the same area to hover. I thought you might enjoy the photo.
Tamar
Hi Tamar,
Thank you for submitting your photo of an Eastern Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa virginica.
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Posted 28 April 2008
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This isn’t a bug, it’s an alien!
I love your website. I’ve always been fascinated by the strange and wonderful world of creepy crawlies. What is this bug? My girlfriend had a nighttime rendezvous with it in her garage. She lives in Southern California. Thanks,
Joel
Hi Joel,
This isn’t an alien, it is a native (to Southern California) male Valley Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa varipuncta. We saw our first male Valley Carpenter Bee yesterday flying around our oak tree sapling in a territorial manner. Females of the species are a rick black color and are slightly larger.
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Posted 13 April 2008
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Grizzly Bee?
Bugman,
This thing has been flying around a dedicated area of a guava tree outside my window all day without taking a rest. It has to be 2 inches long… What is it? I live in San Diego, CA.
TN
Hi TN,
This is one of our favorite harbingers of spring in Southern California, the male Valley Carpenter Bee. The golden male bees with green eyes fly for a short period of time in the spring and they have a rapid aggressive flight. The black female bees look like a different species. they have a more plodding flight and they are longer lived.
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Posted 24 March 2008
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can you please identify this bug?
Hello,
We found this bug in our garden near the beach in southern California. Would you be able to identify it for us? Thanks for your help!
Lindsey
Hi Lindsey,
What a wonderful “up close and personal” image of a Male Valley Carpenter Bee you have sent our way. Female Valley Carptenter Bees are a rich black color.
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Posted 04 December 2007
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