XylocopaXylocopa aerata Xylocopa bombylans

Australia has eight known Xylocopa species, although there are some 500 bees in the genu across 31 subgenera world wide. Described by the French entomologist Pierre André Latreille, he derived the name from the Ancient Greek word xylokopos meaning “wood-cutter”.

Commonly known as Carpenter Bees, a name that is derived from their nesting behaviour, with the majority creating burrows in hard plant material, including dead wood and bamboo. There are some exceptions.

Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus in flight at Eucalyptus leucoxylon © Marc Newman
Female Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus in flight on Eucalyptus leucoxylon © Marc Newman
Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus male, Ballandean, QLD © Marc Newman
Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus male, Ballandean, QLD © Marc Newman
Female Xylocopa bombylans, Carbrook QLD © Jamie Braithwaite
Female Xylocopa bombylans, Carbrook QLD © Jamie Braithwaite
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Apoidea
  • Family: Apidae
  • Subfamily: Xylocopinae
  • Tribe: Xylocopini
  • Genus: Xylocopa
  • Subgenus:
    • Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) Gribodo, 1894
    • Xylocopa (Lestis) Lepeletier & Serville, 1828

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Marc Newman, Flickr, https://flickr.com/photos/koolbee/albums
  2. Photographs Xylocopa bombylans © Jamie Braithwaite

XylocopaXylocopa aerata Xylocopa bombylans

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