Posts Tagged: Valley carpenter bee

When a 'Teddy Bear Bee' Became 'Mr. October'

We usually see male Valley carpenter bees, Xylocopa sonorina, in the spring and summer, but in the fall? On Oct. 17? But there he was, the familiar golden bee with green eyes, robbing nectar from a Mexican petunia, Ruellia simplex, in a...

A male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, engages in nectar robbing by drilling a hole in the corolla of the Mexican petunia to steal the nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, engages in nectar robbing by drilling a hole in the corolla of the Mexican petunia to steal the nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This male Valley carpenter bee, or "the teddy bear bee," wiggles to reach the nectar of a Mexican petunia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This male Valley carpenter bee, or "the teddy bear bee," wiggles to reach the nectar of a Mexican petunia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, leaves a Mexican petunia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, leaves a Mexican petunia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sleepy-Time for a Valley Carpenter Bee

It's always a good idea to carry your cell phone or shoulder a camera while you're taking a stroll through a garden. You never know what you will see. It was early morning on Tuesday, June 7, when we spotted a female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa...

A dorsal view of a female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, asleep on a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A dorsal view of a female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, asleep on a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, begins to stir on a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, begins to stir on a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Okay, about time to wake up! Shortly after this image was taken, the Valley carpenter bee took flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Okay, about time to wake up! Shortly after this image was taken, the Valley carpenter bee took flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

How a 'Bear' Can Outsmart a Fox

There's a way for a bear to outsmart a fox. A teddy bear bee, that is.  We just witnessed a male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, aka "the teddy bear bee," buzz up to a patch of  foxgloves, Digitalis...

A male valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, engaging in nectar robbing; he's sipping nectar through a hole in the base of a foxglove blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, engaging in nectar robbing; he's sipping nectar through a hole in the base of a foxglove blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ah, sweet nectar. This male Valley carpenter bee lingers a bit to sip the sweet reward. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ah, sweet nectar. This male Valley carpenter bee lingers a bit to sip the sweet reward. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of male Valley carpenter bee, "the teddy bear beer," engaged in nectar robbing. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of male Valley carpenter bee, "the teddy bear beer," engaged in nectar robbing. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two Bees: A Close Encounter with a Cousin

So here I am, a male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, just enjoying the nectar on this tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii, in Vacaville, Calif. Some folks call me "The teddy bear bee." Yes, I like that nickname. The late Robbin Thorp...

A honey bee, Apis mellifera, buzzes over the head of a male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, on a tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee, Apis mellifera, buzzes over the head of a male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, on a tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The honey bee's feet touches the antennae of the male Valley carpenter bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The honey bee's feet touches the antennae of the male Valley carpenter bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The honey bee's abdomen touches the head of the male Valley carpenter bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The honey bee's abdomen touches the head of the male Valley carpenter bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Up, up and away. Off to the next blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Up, up and away. Off to the next blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Watch out, Mr. Carpenter Bee, I'm coming back down. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Watch out, Mr. Carpenter Bee, I'm coming back down. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

You're crowding me, Ms. Honey Bee! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

You're crowding me, Ms. Honey Bee! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

I'm outta here, says the carpenter bee to the honey bee. Take it all, it's yours. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

I'm outta here, says the carpenter bee to the honey bee. Take it all, it's yours. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

David and Goliath? Underdog Vs. Bigger Opponent?

Remember the biblical story about David and Goliath? How young David, the underdog, defeats a Philistine giant? Sometimes you think the same kind of battle will occur in nature when a honey bee, Apis mellifera, encounters a much larger carpenter bee,...

A honey bee comes faces to face with a Valley carpenter bee on a mustard blossom. The Valley carpenter bee is native to the United States, while the honey bee is native to Europe. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee comes faces to face with a Valley carpenter bee on a mustard blossom. The Valley carpenter bee is native to the United States, while the honey bee is native to Europe. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Valley carpenter bee spreads her wings, claiming the entire flower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Valley carpenter bee spreads her wings, claiming the entire flower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is the male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, also known as "the teddy bear bee." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is the male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, also known as "the teddy bear bee." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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