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.

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

rrblint wrote in post #14839050
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!

Wow, these are incredible. Nice detail.

very nice captures, those eyes are fantastic.

Thanks kpflynn!

Thanks rick_reno!

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

phocalphobe wrote in post #14839066
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!!!

Dave Orr wrote in post #14843031
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.

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

Kraig C wrote in post #14846680
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.

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

great shots. love the green eyes.

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

http://www.hear.org …/?q=021012-0042&o=insects
and
http://www.ctahr.hawai​i.edu …s/KH-butterfly-garden.pdf

on page 18.

Your pic is much better.

@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.