is this a carpenter bee queen?

phocalphobe · 10th of August 2012 (Fri)

I had a chance to take a few pics of this bee on my daily morning walk. I thought it was a carpenter bee queen, but I never noticed her green eyes before so I thought maybe it was a different species?

The first shot was taken with flash, the second, without. The setup: 1Ds3, 100-400L IS @ 380, 5.6f. TV mode, ISO 200, 200ss.

rrblint · 10th of August 2012 (Fri)

Don't know what kind of bee that is but wow, those are beautiful images!

phocalphobe · 10th of August 2012 (Fri)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrblint

Don't know what kind of bee that is but wow, those are beautiful images!

Thanks! As you probably guessed, it took about 15 tries to get these two. Those bees sure know how to fly snappy evasive manuevers!

kpflynn · 10th of August 2012 (Fri)

Wow, these are incredible. Nice detail.

rick_reno · 10th of August 2012 (Fri)

very nice captures, those eyes are fantastic.

phocalphobe · 10th of August 2012 (Fri)

Thanks kpflynn!

Thanks rick_reno!

It does feel good to get a couple of lucky shots every once in awhile.

Dave Orr · 11th of August 2012 (Sat)

Quote:

Originally Posted by phocalphobe

Thanks! As you probably guessed, it took about 15 tries to get these two. Those bees sure know how to fly snappy evasive manuevers!

If you think they're tough try an in flight shot of a dragon fly.

Really cool shots though!!!

phocalphobe · 11th of August 2012 (Sat)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Orr

If you think they're tough try an in flight shot of a dragon fly.

Really cool shots though!!!

Thanks Dave! And you're right about how difficult it is to take pics of flying dragonflies. To prove your point, here's a dragonfly pic I took with the same setup I took the bee pics with. Settings: TV mode, 160ss, 1600ISO, f5.6, no flash. This pic was taken about a half hour after daybreak with heavy overcast, so less than ideal conditions. This mated pair, of which the trailing d-fly kept dipping its tail into the pond as if to lay eggs? Well, tracking this pair was indeed harder than taking the bee shots. Along with that, the low shutter speed I dialed in couldn't keep up with how fast those dragons were zipping around the pond. The closest I could approach them without spooking them was about 25 ft. Maybe I'll revisit the pond during lunchbreak for better lighting conditions.

Kraig C · 11th of August 2012 (Sat)

From the info I could find via Google image and web search; Green eyed Carpenter bee

phocalphobe · 12th of August 2012 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kraig C

From the info I could find via Google image and web search; Green eyed Carpenter bee

Thanks Kraig! It's the first time I've noticed these honey colored green eyed ones myself, although I have seen some black ones occasionally flying around the same area.

Mr.Aros. · 12th of August 2012 (Sun)

Nice inflight shots, and what cool looking green eyes, amazing.

dbricks · 13th of August 2012 (Mon)

great shots. love the green eyes.

Miltontao · 14th of August 2012 (Tue)

I’m not big on insects but, I believe this is a male Sonoran carpenter bee (Xylocopa sonorina).

http://www.hear.org/starr/images/ima...0042&o=insects
and
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/WangKH/D...fly-garden.pdf

on page 18.

Your pic is much better.

phocalphobe · 14th of August 2012 (Tue)

@Mr.Aros. - Thanks for the kind words.

@dbricks - Thank you too!

@Miltontao - Wow, thanks and much obliged for the research effort and results, it's much appreciated.

10th of August 2012 (Fri)	#1
phocalphobe Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: kapolei, hawaii Posts: 903 IMAGE EDITING OK	is this a carpenter bee queen? I had a chance to take a few pics of this bee on my daily morning walk. I thought it was a carpenter bee queen, but I never noticed her green eyes before so I thought maybe it was a different species? The first shot was taken with flash, the second, without. The setup: 1Ds3, 100-400L IS @ 380, 5.6f. TV mode, ISO 200, 200ss. __________________ i'm a canon gear junkie..........i..... need....help............in buying me more canon gear. Gear List Last edited by phocalphobe : 10th of August 2012 (Fri) at 02:45. Reason: syntax

10th of August 2012 (Fri)	#2
rrblint Cream of the Crop Join Date: May 2012 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 5,922 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: is this a carpenter bee queen? Don't know what kind of bee that is but wow, those are beautiful images! __________________ Mark

10th of August 2012 (Fri)	#4
kpflynn Goldmember Join Date: May 2010 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 2,185 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: is this a carpenter bee queen? Wow, these are incredible. Nice detail.

10th of August 2012 (Fri)	#5
rick_reno Cream of the Crop Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 42,424	Re: is this a carpenter bee queen? very nice captures, those eyes are fantastic.

10th of August 2012 (Fri)	#6
phocalphobe Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: kapolei, hawaii Posts: 903 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: is this a carpenter bee queen? Thanks kpflynn! Thanks rick_reno! It does feel good to get a couple of lucky shots every once in awhile. __________________ i'm a canon gear junkie..........i..... need....help............in buying me more canon gear. Gear List

11th of August 2012 (Sat)	#9
Kraig C Goldmember Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,205	Re: is this a carpenter bee queen? From the info I could find via Google image and web search; Green eyed Carpenter bee

12th of August 2012 (Sun)	#11
Mr.Aros. Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: sweden Posts: 195 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: is this a carpenter bee queen? Nice inflight shots, and what cool looking green eyes, amazing.

13th of August 2012 (Mon)	#12
dbricks Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 357 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: is this a carpenter bee queen? great shots. love the green eyes. __________________ Canon 1D \| Rebel T2i \| Rebel XTi \| Tamron 70-200 2.8 \| Canon 18-55 IS \| Canon 50mm 1.8 \| Canon 55-250 IS \| Sigma 400 5.6 APO HSM Macro

14th of August 2012 (Tue)	#13
Miltontao Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 35	Re: is this a carpenter bee queen? I’m not big on insects but, I believe this is a male Sonoran carpenter bee (Xylocopa sonorina). http://www.hear.org/starr/images/ima...0042&o=insects and http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/WangKH/D...fly-garden.pdf on page 18. Your pic is much better.

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