ENT532 Fall 2024: Image of eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica)

This photo of an eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) on ironweed (Vernonia sp.) was taken at Powdermill Nature Reserve in Rector, PA. I observed a patch of flowers in a meadow for approximately one hour (2024-09-01T10:57:00/2024-00-01T12:00:00). I noticed that while carpenter bees frequently visited the ironweed, the many bumble bees (Bombus sp.) present in the meadow did not. I suspect this is because the species have different nutritional needs; I have read that different bees species have different preferences for protein to lipid ratios in pollen. In comparing the species, I also noticed that the carpenter bees had smooth, shiny abdomens, while the bumble bees' abdomens were covered in hair. I wonder whether this makes the carpenter bees less efficient at collecting pollen. Carpenter bees, do, however, have many hairs on the hind legs. I also observed that when the carpenter bees flew from one plant to another, they would not fly in a straight path, but would fly several feet away from the plants and then back. I suspect they do this to get a better view of the plants and understand their setting better. When moving between different flowers of the same plant, the carpenter bees do not show this behavior.

This image was deposited for ENT 532: Insect Biodiversity and Evolution in Fall 2024.

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Work Title ENT532 Fall 2024: Image of eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica)
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Ella Messner
Keyword
  1. carpenter bee
  2. Xylocopa virginica
  3. Vernonia
  4. ENT532
License CC0 1.0 (Public Domain Dedication)
Work Type Image
Publication Date September 3, 2024
Subject
  1. Entomology
DOI doi:10.26207/hw6y-9d77
Geographic Area
  1. Powdermill Nature Reserve, Rector, Pennsylvania, USA
Deposited September 03, 2024

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Updated
  • Updated Keyword, Subject, Geographic Area, and 2 more Show Changes
    Keyword
    • carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica, Vernonia, ENT532
    Subject
    • Entomology
    Geographic Area
    • Powdermill Nature Reserve, Rector, Pennsylvania, USA
    Description
    • This photo of an eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) on ironweed (Vernonia sp.) was taken at Powdermill Nature Reserve.
    • This image was deposited for ENT 532: Insect Biodiversity and Evolution in Fall 2024.
    Publication Date
    • 2024-09-03
  • Added Creator Ella Messner
  • Added ENT532 carpenter bee.jpg
  • Updated License Show Changes
    License
    • http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
  • Published
  • Updated

Version 2
published

  • Created
  • Updated Description Show Changes
    Description
    • This photo of an eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) on ironweed (Vernonia sp.) was taken at Powdermill Nature Reserve.
    • This photo of an eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) on ironweed (Vernonia sp.) was taken at Powdermill Nature Reserve in Rector, PA. I observed a patch of flowers in a meadow for approximately one hour (2024-09-01T10:57:00/2024-00-01T12:00:00). I noticed that while carpenter bees frequently visited the ironweed, the many bumble bees (Bombus sp.) present in the meadow did not. I suspect this is because the species have different nutritional needs; I have read that different bees species have different preferences for protein to lipid ratios in pollen. In comparing the species, I also noticed that the carpenter bees had smooth, shiny abdomens, while the bumble bees' abdomens were covered in hair. I wonder whether this makes the carpenter bees less efficient at collecting pollen. Carpenter bees, do, however, have many hairs on the hind legs. I also observed that when the carpenter bees flew from one plant to another, they would not fly in a straight path, but would fly several feet away from the plants and then back. I suspect they do this to get a better view of the plants and understand their setting better. When moving between different flowers of the same plant, the carpenter bees do not show this behavior.
    • This image was deposited for ENT 532: Insect Biodiversity and Evolution in Fall 2024.
  • Published
  • Updated