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Bees of Zihuatanejo

EPIFAMILY ANTHOPHILA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)

-Narrow-waisted Wasps, Ants, and Bees (Suborder Apocrita)

-Ants, Bees, and Stinging Wasps (Infraorder Aculeata)

-Bees and Apoid Wasps (Superfamily Apoidea)

-Bees (Epifamily Anthophila)

-​Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, and Allies (Family Apidae)

-Carpenter Bees (Subfamily Xylocopinae)

-Large Carpenter Bees (Tribe Xylocopini)

-Large Carpenter Bees (Genus Xylocopa)

-Ridge-crowned Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa fimbriata)


Xylocopa fimbriata (a member of the Large Carpenter Bees) is generally not aggressive species, but bees can sting in groups to defend their hive. are important pollinators worldwide and are also kept for honey production and crop pollination. The common name "carpenter bee" derives from their nesting behavior; nearly all species burrow into hard plant material such as dead wood or bamboo.



Ridge-crowned Carpenter

Xylocopa fimbriata

Range

  • Native to Mexico and Central America.

  • In Mexico, it occurs along both the Pacific and Gulf slopes, including Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region.

  • Its range extends south through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Habitat

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, woodland edges, secondary forests, orchards, gardens, mangroves, and agricultural areas.

  • Females nest by excavating tunnels in dead wood, bamboo, fence posts, tree branches, cacti, and other untreated timber.

  • Adults are commonly found wherever flowering plants and suitable nesting sites are available.

Behaviour

  • Primarily solitary, with each female constructing and provisioning her own nest, although nests may be reused for several years.

  • Active during the day, visiting a wide variety of flowering plants to collect pollen and nectar.

  • Females excavate long tunnels in wood, dividing them into brood cells with partitions made from chewed wood fibres.

  • Males often patrol flowering plants and nesting areas, hovering to defend territories from rival males.

  • Females can sting if handled but are generally non-aggressive, while males lack a sting.

Size

  • Body length: 22–30 mm (0.9–1.2 in)

  • Wingspan: 40–55 mm (1.6–2.2 in)

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