Blimpaccident
xylocopa X. varipuncta
I was decidedly against making an entry for April Fool's Day, (and really I'm not), but as it is my life and nature plays it's own little jokes on me far more often than once a year, it was only a small surprise that while out today to shoot wildflowers, I was presented with a GIANT bee - but only if willing to make a rapid lens change on the spot.
(I did :)
The head is the size of a full size bee, and the body is considerably larger (like it ate a full size bee). I confess I entertained a concern regarding the effects of the Fukushima radiation on the west coast, but thankfully there is a Wikipedia page (possibly fake) dedicated to the Valley Carpenter Bee.
It had this to say:
Valley Carpenter Bee
In terms of body size, X. varipuncta are 1 inch or 2.5 centimeters in length and are the largest bees found in California.
X. varipuncta is the largest native bee species alongside the bumble queens and are found in a diverse range of ecosystems from subtropical to temperate.[4] The name "carpenter" comes from the fact that these bees have developed a habit of excavating inside a variety of woods.
(I have to get back to taping aluminum foil on all the windows now..)
DSC_0634
xylocopa X. varipuncta
I was decidedly against making an entry for April Fool's Day, (and really I'm not), but as it is my life and nature plays it's own little jokes on me far more often than once a year, it was only a small surprise that while out today to shoot wildflowers, I was presented with a GIANT bee - but only if willing to make a rapid lens change on the spot.
(I did :)
The head is the size of a full size bee, and the body is considerably larger (like it ate a full size bee). I confess I entertained a concern regarding the effects of the Fukushima radiation on the west coast, but thankfully there is a Wikipedia page (possibly fake) dedicated to the Valley Carpenter Bee.
It had this to say:
Valley Carpenter Bee
In terms of body size, X. varipuncta are 1 inch or 2.5 centimeters in length and are the largest bees found in California.
X. varipuncta is the largest native bee species alongside the bumble queens and are found in a diverse range of ecosystems from subtropical to temperate.[4] The name "carpenter" comes from the fact that these bees have developed a habit of excavating inside a variety of woods.
(I have to get back to taping aluminum foil on all the windows now..)
DSC_0634