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Project Noah Nature School
Xylocopa varipuncta
There were at least three yellow, fuzzy, male bees with green eyes and one black female in this burrow in the tree. This species is the largest bee found in California and the eggs are the largest of ALL insect eggs. The last image shows the entire branch with the bee in the entrance of the tunnel.
A tunneled hole in a cut branch of an Avocado tree in the front yard. This species will "burrow into, and make their nests in, hardwood and telephone poles." "The bees tunnel through wood with their mandibles, although they do not ingest the wood in the process. The tunnels average 6 to 10 in (15 to 25 cm) in length and consist of a linear series of partitioned cells. They prefer untreated or unpainted wood. The adult bees spend the winter in the tunnels."
They were not happy I was near their home so they flew all around me and right up to my face. The males are harmless as they don't have a stinger but are rather aggressive. They're also known as the Teddy Bear Bee.
Spotted on Mar 17, 2013
Submitted on Mar 18, 2013
44 Comments (1–25)
Thank you Lauren and Jemma :)
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/383...
Thought of your spotting when I saw this one!
This is still one of my favorites!
Thank you Todd and Andrea!
Great macro shots, great series Cindy!
Thank you so much!
The detail on the eyes is really impressive!
Congratulations Cindy!
Very very nice! Congratulations :)
Thank you all so much! These large bees are such a joy to watch in the yard. They do drive the dogs crazy though with their loud buzzzzzzing ;)
Congratulations Cindy. Well deserved SoTD.
Karen P ,these busy are really adorable, They literally are flying teddy bears,
Thank you for such an informat ive post! I love bees, and I learned about a new one now.
Lovely, great series!!!
Wow! Congratulations Cindy on this wonderful series & your SOTD :)
Wow extraordinary series Cindy Congratulations !
Awesome spotting, congratulations CindyBinghamKeiser!
Amazing photo!!! Congratulations CindyBinghamKeiser!
Incredible series. Congratulations on Spot of the Day. It looks so sinister. HA! I love all the photos and the last stump photo with just a glimpse of it peaking out is very cool.
Congrats Cindy! Great series!
Congratulations Cindy! Wonderful series!
Very well documented. Congrats Cindy!
Lovely photos Cindy, congratulations on spotting of the day.
Great spotting! Congratulations!
Congratulations Cindy!