Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Anthophila (Apoidea) - Bees » Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees (Apidae) » Carpenter Bees (Xylocopinae) » Large Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa) » Valley Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa varipuncta)
Photo#51316
Xylocopa varipuncta - female
Copyright © 2006 Hartmut Wisch

Xylocopa varipuncta - Female
Pasadena, CA, Los Angeles County, California, USA
May 8, 2006
Size: 20mm
On a Phlomis lanata, in my garden, rubbing the base of its abdomen against the 'woolly' flowers.
Contributed by Hartmut Wisch on 8 May, 2006 - 6:23pm
Last updated 5 May, 2007 - 1:15pm

Is this California Carpenter Bee?
I'm asking because of the black wings.
… Ron Hemberger, 5 May, 2007 - 1:34am

 
Hi Ron,
the common name for this one is Valley Carpenter Bee (black body, wings with bronzy reflections). X. californica is the California Carpenter Bee (body metallic green or blue); I have yet to post a couple from last week at Eaton Canyon.
… Hartmut Wisch, 5 May, 2007 - 12:20pm

 
Thanks for the clarification.
I now think I have one with the wrong ID and can't figure out how that happened. Someone moved it here:
… Ron Hemberger, 5 May, 2007 - 12:36pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.