Black bumble - Actually Xylocopa bee

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:50 am

On Bougainvillea flowers I guess.

Left antenna missing, though.

Handheld, full frame.
Sue, #2 with 1/80 s.

Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Date/time original 26.05.2007 12:44:52
Shutter speed value 1/200 s
Aperture value f/11
ISO speed ratings ISO 400
Focal length 100 mm

Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Date/time original 26.05.2007 12:45:15
Shutter speed value 1/80 s
Aperture value f/14
ISO speed ratings ISO 400
Focal length 100 mm

Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Date/time original 26.05.2007 12:50:43
Shutter speed value 1/250 s
Aperture value f/11
ISO speed ratings ISO 400
Focal length 100 mm

salden · Post by **salden** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:02 am

Looks like this one has been in fight or has had a rough life so far. Nice images, especially #2

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:56 am

Weird, from the colour it looks as if it has been creosoted!

DaveW

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 4:28 am

Never seen one exactly like this, I wonder if it could be a wood borer type. Nice photos of it though.

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:58 am

Thanks folks!

This creature is pretty common here.

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:34 am

Nikola, nice pictures of a black beauty of a bee, one of the biggest we have in our European fauna.

It is a bee of the genus Xylocopa and not a bumble bee. The latter are bees of the genus Bombus (and their chuckoos).

Xylocopa spp. nest in wood and pithy plant stems. The genus name Xylocopa is Greek and means wood cutter. In English they are sometimes referred to as "Carpenter bees". So Ken is quite right.

My five cents.

Cheers,
Betty

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:57 am

Thanks Betty!

Topic title corrected.

No wondering about name (Xylocopa). As I saw on one of my photos it has a very strong claws and proboscis.

Ken, BINGO!

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:29 am

Excellent photos and specimen Nikola...I love the second one, the composition is wonderful.

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:27 pm

Thanks Doug. Seems this kind of bee is very cooperative.

But not welcome one to call to fix any wooden parts.

crotermund · Post by **crotermund** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:01 pm

Really nice pics, Nikola. Great angle on all 3 pics. I love the color combination in the 3rd pic also. I find that shooting solid black insects is very difficult, but you did an excellent job on this subject.