A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex
This black bee has gray eyes, white between the eyes and brown wings & fuzz.
Mexican Bush Sage in backyard
I suspect it's a type of Carpenter Bee
Spotted on Oct 13, 2011
Submitted on Oct 13, 2011
4 Comments
Thanks for the info Juan! I love learning more and more each day :)
Cindy, in Xylocopa males frequently have white faces or orange hairs (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/645...). White faces are also common on both sexes of small carpeter bees (Ceratina), Orchid bees and stingless bees
:) Me too! I haven't seen a white faces one before. I submitted it to BugGuide in hopes of an ID.
Yes, it is a carpenter bee, and a male at that. Not sure of the species - I wish I knew the SoCal carpenter bees better.