Southern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa micans
This record describes Xylocopa micans (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male similar to the more widespread X. virginica , but male micans has greenish-blue abdomen rather than purple. Female micans is black and with purple body (all black in virginica ).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)
- Subfamily
- Xylocopinae
- Genus
- Xylocopa (Large Carpenter Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se US to Guatemala - Map (Discover Life)
Seasonal Activity
mostly Mar-Nov (BG data)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults visit various flowers to take nectar, often simply by biting through the base of the flower . Hosts associations
Life History
overwinter as adults
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Xylocopa micans Lepeletier 1841
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Xylocopa micans. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Southern Carpenter Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , John S. Ascher , v belov , Chuck Sexton , hg
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Carpenter Bee
What is Southern Carpenter Bee?
Southern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa micans) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Southern Carpenter Bee?
14-27 mm
How do you identify Southern Carpenter Bee?
Male similar to the more widespread X. virginica , but male micans has greenish-blue abdomen rather than purple. Female micans is black and with purple body (all black in virginica ).
Where is Southern Carpenter Bee found?
Range: se US to Guatemala - Map (Discover Life)
What does Southern Carpenter Bee eat?
The diet of the Southern Carpenter Bee includes Adults visit various flowers to take nectar, often simply by biting through the base of the flower . Hosts associations.
When is Southern Carpenter Bee active?
Southern Carpenter Bee: seasonal activity - mostly Mar-Nov (BG data).
What is the life cycle of a Southern Carpenter Bee?
overwinter as adults