Insect · GBIF taxon 1342442
Southern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa micansAlso known as Metallic Carpenter Bee
Southern carpenter bees feature brilliant metallic blue-green reflections across their sleek, dark abdomens. Males establish territories around flowering bushes and patrol vigorously, displaying a dynamic mating system that shifts as the season advances. Females tunnel into dead wood or pithy plant stems to construct solitary brood chambers, serving as crucial pollinators for native flora.
PollinatorSolitary BeeMetallic
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flower Nectar
- Pollen
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Asilid Flies
ThreatsPesticide exposure and destruction of dead wood habitat
HabitatsCoastal plains, pine flatwoods, gardens, and shrublands
Life span1 to 2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyApidae
- SpeciesXylocopa micans
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Females can deliver a painful sting if squeezed; observe foraging bees quietly from a gentle distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Females possess a sting capable of injecting venom, which can cause severe allergic reactions in sensitized individuals.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by a robust body, shiny metallic blue-green abdomen, and thick dark hairs.
- What to do
- Avoid touching active nesting stems and allow patrolling males space to fly freely.
Responsible observation
- Observation Etiquette: Maintain a brief distance from nesting stems to watch females bring pollen to their brood.
- Garden Habitat: Leave dead stems and woody debris undisturbed to encourage native nest sites.
Host Plant (c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Christopher Eliot, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christopher Eliot · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Sam Droege, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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