Carpenter bee seen looking for habitat
As the sun was finally out in the afternoon, other insects species were seen – the most significant being a carpenter bee seen below and in the video.
Last year these were particularly interested by the wisteria that we have in the enclosed courtyard, and in fact for the first time due to their pollination activities, there were seed pods produced (which I have since planted for this year).
These bees, although noisy and capable of making me twitch when they fly past, are – like my my golden solitary bees – harmless to people and don’t sting. They are actually quite impressive and beautiful; when the sunlight catches their abdomen there is an almost electric blue tint to their wings and abdomens.
There are a some photos I would like to share from last year – carpenter bees enjoying the wisteria flowers.
Tags: bee nesting, carpenter bee
September 26th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
[...] It is the same oak-framed barn – apparently built in 1877 – that also plays host to my occasional carpenter bees looking for new habitats and last winter sheltered three bats behind a large bottle. In 2006, I was [...]
March 7th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
[...] Came across a great video this morning going through and explaining the different species of native bees in Britain/UK (I suppose native bees don’t make the distinction). Produced by the British Science Association, it covers and distinguishes between the nests and habitats of Leafcutter bees, Masonry bees, Tawny Mining bees, Wool Carder bees, Miner bees, Cuckoo Bumble bees and Carpenter bees. [...]
August 31st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
[...] the year, the only solitary bees that I have recently identified flying around are the one or two Carpenter bees that enjoy the wysteria flowers and occasionally the lavender [...]