Sep 4, 2009
Carpenter bees (Xylocopata tabaniformis orpifex) can't get enough of the day lilies in our yard.
In the early morning, they buzz into the patch of day lilies to forage for nectar and pollen. When they're finished, it's easy to tell where they've been: they're covered with telltale yellow pollen.
Blue sky, yellow lily, yellow pollen on a magnum-black carpenter bee.
What a contrast.
And definitely worthy of a photograph.
Attached Images:
![FEMALE carpenter bee (Xylocopata tabaniformis orpifex) visits a day lily. (Pkoto by Kathy Keatley Garvey) FEMALE carpenter bee (Xylocopata tabaniformis orpifex) visits a day lily. (Pkoto by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/2421.jpg)
Carpenter Bee