Xylocopa caerulea
| Distribution: | Southeast Asia, India & China |
| Size: | 23mm body, 50mm wingspan |
| Diet: | Nectar |
The beautiful electric blue pubescence (fur) of this illustration is only found on female blue carpenter bees – the males are a much duller green.
Wondering why they’re called carpenter bees? Well, just like a human carpenter, these industrious bugs drill holes into wood. But they’re not putting up shelves, they’re making nests (called galleries) to hide their eggs in. To do this, the carpenter bees use their powerful mandibles – grabbing onto the wood and vibrating their bodies. They can drill a hole an inch deep in just 5 days, putting my own efforts to shame.
Take a closer look…
