Foothill Carpenter Bee

Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex

Apidae

Xylocopa

Description

Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex is the smallest of local carpenter bees - about 12-18 mm. Females are mostly metallic black, with smoky-colored wings. Male Foothill Carpenter Bees are smaller and have a yellow/tannish lower face and tan/yellow hairs on top of the thorax.

Nectar/

Pollen Plants

The Foothill Carpenter Bee is a generalist, visiting many different flowers. They are known as nectar robbers, as they will slit the base of a flower to obtain nectar.

Habits

Females dig out nests in untreated wood, such as fence posts or wood pillars, or in larger plant stems. Each tunnel can have multiple nest cells.

Season

Later March - June