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Project Noah Nature School
Xylocopa capitata
5 cm give or take The two white spots (white hairs) on the dorso-lateral regions of tergum 1 of the abdomen (also called the metasoma) are distinctive of the males of this species. The females are completely black. This is a very large species with a body length greater than 3cm.
Enjoying local fynbos flowers blooming
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/146...
could this be the female bayucca?
About South African Spiders: Sorry, I can't help you, I am absolutely not skilled with spiders...
I can't give up my day job at all... IDing is exciting and sometimes a real hard game ;-)...
indeed... im not giving up my day job just yet... very new at species ID, used to only look and appreciate... with PN it is a whole new ball game!
I my goodness, i only saw the two white spots on back now!! You are right bayucca, it is the male!!
;) Im thinking female (without yellow markings) and absolutely larger than 3 cm - it is a scary encounter. She actually flew to me to see what Im doing! Pic 4. So I did not linger..
I dont know about famous but definitely abundant... hundreds on the spring time flowers!
Did you see this spider? Perhaps you could have a go at an ID too?
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/140...
Thank you for this spots ID, making the changes now
Pretty sure it is a Xylocopa sp., might actually be Xylocopa capitata, male. What do you think? Getting famous??
Spotted on Sep 16, 2012
Submitted on Sep 16, 2012
+1
