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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)

-Large Carpenter Bees (Genus Xylocopa)


Xylocopa, or carpenter bees, are a genus of large, robust bees in the Apidae family, known for their unique wood-burrowing nesting behavior. Carpenter bees are typically black, but some species may have metallic blue or green tints. They are among the larger bees, with body lengths ranging from 12 to 25 mm or more. Some species can be mistaken for bumblebees due to their size, though carpenter bees have a shinier, more hairless abdomen. Carpenter bees are solitary nesters that bore into soft or untreated wood to create tunnels. These tunnels serve as nests where they lay their eggs. Unlike termites, they do not eat wood; they simply excavate it.



Xylocopa Carpenter Bees (Unknown Species)

Xylocopa (Genus)

Range

  • The genus Xylocopa is distributed throughout tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions worldwide.

  • In the Americas, species occur from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America to Argentina.

  • Numerous species occur throughout Mexico, including the Pacific coast of Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region.

Habitat

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

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

  • Adults are common wherever flowering plants and suitable nesting wood are available.

Behaviour

  • Primarily solitary, although females may share nest entrances or reuse tunnels over several generations.

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

  • Females excavate long nesting tunnels in wood and divide them into brood cells with partitions made from chewed wood fibres.

  • Males often hover near flowers or nesting sites to defend territories; although intimidating, males cannot sting.

  • Females are generally non-aggressive and sting only when handled or trapped.

Size

  • Body length: 15–35 mm (0.6–1.4 in), depending on the species.

  • Among the largest bees in the world.

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