Carpenter Bee - Xylocopa aruana

Family ANTHOPHORIDAE

This page contains pictures and information about Carpenter Bees that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 25mm

This is a very large and hairy bee, with black abdomen and yellow thorax. Wings are dark brown in colour. They are solitary, i.e., living on its own, not like the Honey Bees that living in group.



In late spring 2002, we found it resting on a footpath, could not fly nor walk, seemed having some problems. We took it home, for the next day it became normal. We let it go. It flied away and disappeared within seconds.

They feed on pollen. Females make tunnel and lay eggs in decaying wood, including dry flower sticks of grass-trees Xanthorrhoea.


Reference:
1. Native Bees of the Sydney region, a field guide - Anne Dollin, Michael Batley, Martyn Robinson & Brian Faulkner, Australian Native Bee Research Centre.
2. Wildlife of Greater Brisbane - New edition, Published by Queensland Museum 2007, p119.