I took this photograph of a carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) in early April this year in the garden. I was delighted to see the return of these huge black bees who took delight in piercing the wisteria flowers to “steal” the nectar.
I am surprised that they are not universally liked as they are not aggressive, the male does not even have a sting, but I agree they are very clumsy and you could get buzzed if you happen to get in the way of their noisy flight path. So aside from accidental encounters of a close kind, it is extremely difficult to get near them. I felt it was somewhat easier to get close to them in the early spring as they must have been just emerging from hibernation and have been famished. During the summer time I felt that they were extremely frisky and I failed to sneak up to them without being spotted.
This is why I was very surprised to find some very laid-back carpenters feeding on Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium Cannabinum). I have seen them over the past couple of days.
I must admit their different behaviour made me suspect a different species but the red tip on the antenna is supposed to be indicative of the Xylocopa violacea.
I find the carpenters as appealing as the bumble bees probably because of their fluffy appearance.
They did not seem in the slightest concerned with being photographed by humans at such a short distance, so I decided to make the most of the opportunity and take a short video. It is only a few seconds long, the battery in the camera was running out for one thing and it is enough to give an idea of its nonchalant nectar gathering.
I wonder if the change in behaviour is due to the approach of autumn and the hibernating season? Perhaps the greatest driver now is to build up sufficient food stores to be able to survive over winter?
Has anyone any other ideas or has anyone else noticed this change in behaviour?
a french garden 