Xylocopa aerataMale Xylocopa aerata Xylocopa aeratus Pollinator The Assassin
Photographs by Marc Newman ◦
Sexual colour dimorphism is evident between the male and female Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus (Metallic Green Carpenter Bee), with the male of the species having the appearance of gold and green, whilst the female are more metallic green all over, making it easier to tell them apart.
The male Xylocopa aeratus are similar to Xylocopa bombylans, however the males between the two species have different face colours. Xylocopa aeratus have yellow colour face markings, whilst Xylocopa bombylans have white face markings.
The pristine condition of the wings of this male Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus is an indication that this may be a newly emerged male.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Superfamily: Apoidea
- Informal: Apiformes
- Family: Apidae
- Subfamily: Xylocopinae
- Tribe: Xylocopini
- Genus: Xylocopa
- Subgenus: infrageneric Lestis
- Species: Xylocopa aerata
Footnote & References
- Photographs Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus © Marc Newman, Flickr
Xylocopa aerataMale Xylocopa aerata Xylocopa aeratus Pollinator The Assassin
XylocopaXylocopa aerata Xylocopa bombylans
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