Insect · GBIF taxon 1342408
Crowned Large Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa capitataAlso known as Crowned Carpenter Bee
Crowned large carpenter bees are solitary pollinators renowned for excavating deep nesting galleries inside dead branches and sound wood. Females feature glossy black bodies accented by prominent yellowish-cream hair patches on the head and thorax, creating their distinctive crowned crest. They rely on buzz pollination to vibrate and release tight pollen reserves from native legumes, proteas, and agricultural crops across Sub-Saharan Africa.
PollinatorSolitary BeeBuzz Pollinator
1 / 6—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Pollen
- Nectar
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Robber flies
- Mantises
ThreatsRemoval of dead wood nesting sites and pesticide exposure
HabitatsFynbos, shrublands, dry open woodlands, and gardens
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyApidae
- SpeciesXylocopa capitata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Females possess a defensive sting; observe peacefully without handling or trapping them.
Responsible observation
- Floral Visits: Look for them foraging on native legumes and proteas during sunny, warm mornings.
- Nest Preservation: Leave standing dead wood in gardens to provide critical nest substrates.
- Listen Close: Listen for their characteristic loud hum produced during buzz pollination.
Competitor (c) Rudolph Steenkamp, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Rudolph Steenkamp · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Muir · cc-by
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