Posts Tagged: valley carpenter bees
Sold on the Salvia
Ever watched Valley carpenter bees (Xylocopa varipuncta) foraging on salvia? Native pollinator...
A female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, forages on grape-scented sage, Salvia melissodora. Note the "pollen cap." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Check out the "pollen cap" on this female Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, foraging on grape-scented sage, Salvia melissodora. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bees and Trees
We have a section of an old apple tree at the Haven that is being used by Valley carpenter bees,...
The 'Gold' That an Apple Tree Yielded
Thar's gold in them thar apple trees. Gold? When a rotten apple tree was cut down last week on...
A male Valley carpenter bee (right) peers from a hole. A female (all females are solid black) occupies the hole next to him.
A cluster of male Valley carpenter bees.
Extension apiculturist (emeritus) Eric Mussen holds a handful of male Valley carpenter bees.
This male Valley carpenter bee backed into its drilled hole to keep warm.
Salvia, July Bee Plant of the Month
As we move into the heat of the summer, few plants show their value as bee plants for hot, dry...
Pollen Power
Female Valley carpenter bees are solid black--except when they're foraging around passion flowers....
A Valley carpenter bee receives a brush of pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Check out the yellow pollen on this Valley carpenter bee's thorax. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bees frequent the passion flowers, too. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)