Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa) on White Sage flower
This is a Large Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa, Hymenoptera) showing the right way to enter a flower of White Sage (Salvia apiana, Lamiaceae). The bee is using its mass to fully open the flower, and going in through the proper throat of the flower so that pollination can occur. Smaller bees aren't heavy enough to leverage the flowers open, so they have to find other ways - compare this photo where the bee is bending the flower over backwards. This White Sage shrub is running low on new flowers, but it keeps putting out a few at a time. (San Marcos Pass, 31 July 2018)
Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa) on White Sage flower
This is a Large Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa, Hymenoptera) showing the right way to enter a flower of White Sage (Salvia apiana, Lamiaceae). The bee is using its mass to fully open the flower, and going in through the proper throat of the flower so that pollination can occur. Smaller bees aren't heavy enough to leverage the flowers open, so they have to find other ways - compare this photo where the bee is bending the flower over backwards. This White Sage shrub is running low on new flowers, but it keeps putting out a few at a time. (San Marcos Pass, 31 July 2018)