Posts Tagged: teddy bear bee

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)

The Boys Are Back in Town

The boys are back in town! Well, at least one is. We don't know where the girls are. Neither, apparently, does he. A male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, aka "the teddy bear bee," buzzed into our mustard patch Sunday and nectared on the...

A male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, nectars on a a mustard blossom in Vacaville, Calif. on Sunday, March 25. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, nectars on a a mustard blossom in Vacaville, Calif. on Sunday, March 25. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Peek-a-bee! The male Valley carpenter bee peers at the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Peek-a-bee! The male Valley carpenter bee peers at the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

We have lift-off! The teddy bear bee, Xylocopa varipuncta,leaves a mustard blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

We have lift-off! The teddy bear bee, Xylocopa varipuncta,leaves a mustard blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The 'Teddy Bear' Bee

Lots of youngsters received teddy bears as holiday gifts.But native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis, received a teddy bear, too.Of sorts.A male valley carpenter bee (Xylocopa varipuncta), aka "teddy bear,"...

A male Valley carpenter bee found in the Robbin Thorp home in Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male Valley carpenter bee found in the Robbin Thorp home in Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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