Subject: Big Brown Bee by Orange Tree
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA
March 13, 2013 6:31 pm
Hello,
I noticed about 5 of these big brown bees flying in and around my orange tree with is starting to bud.
I’ve been living at this location for 3 years and have never seen this bug here or ever before.
Is it even a bee?
I live in the san fernando valley in southern California. Los Angeles County.
It seems to be about an inch in length. Orangish-brown in color and buzzes like a bee.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks
Signature: Rory Ambron
Male Valley Carpenter Bee
Dear Rory,
You are absolutely correct that this is a Bee, and more specifically, it is a male Valley Carpenter Bee. Valley Carpenter Bees exhibit sexual dimorphism, meaning that the male and female look very different from one another. The male is a lovely golden color with green eyes and the female is larger and black with black wings. The female excavates a gallery for her brood in dead wood, and it is reported that Valley Carpenter Bees can do considerable damage over the years to telephone poles if they are plentiful.
Male Valley Carpenter Bee
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