Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata

2 Golden-Green Carpenter Bee at Acton, ACT

Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Acton, ACT - 14 Oct 2019
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Acton, ACT - 14 Oct 2019
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Acton, ACT - 14 Oct 2019
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Acton, ACT - 14 Oct 2019
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata at Acton, ACT - 14 Oct 2019
Request use of media

Identification history

Xylocopa aeratus 15 Oct 2019 michael.batley
Xylocopa aeratus 15 Oct 2019 TimL

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

Three female Carpenter bees were sighted on this bush. A male turned up and two of the females left. The male flew around the remaining female who then stopped collecting pollen and took up the posture seen in the images. Mating took place in the sequence shown in the images with the male initially flying close to the left side of the female as seen in the second image. Mating occurred just after the fourth image was taken. The male then backed away as seen in the last image and left, with the female going back to pollen collection. Thanks to Marcus Leach for originally locating the Carpenter bees on this plant.

2 comments

   16 Oct 2019
A lovely sequence. If more than one male is present, the female may lead them in a vertical zig-zag dance which may be part of a mate selection behaviour.
TimL wrote:
   16 Oct 2019
Thanks for this information Michael.

Please Login or Register to comment.

Nearby sightings

Page 2 of 6 - image sightings only

Mysticarion porrectus (Golden Semi-slug) at Acton, ACT - 28 Apr 2022 by TimL
Cacomantis flabelliformis (Fan-tailed Cuckoo) at Acton, ACT - 5 Apr 2022 by HelenCross
Malurus cyaneus (Superb Fairywren) at Acton, ACT - 29 Mar 2022 by Christine
Austalis pulchella (Hover fly) at Acton, ACT - 29 Mar 2022 by Christine
Lymantriinae (subfamily) (Unidentified tussock moths) at Acton, ACT - 29 Mar 2022 by Christine
Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail) at Acton, ACT - 29 Mar 2022 by Christine
Phaulacridium vittatum (Wingless Grasshopper) at Acton, ACT - 26 Mar 2022 by YellowButton
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 25 Mar 2022 by HelenBoronia
Amegilla sp. (genus) (Blue Banded Bee) at Acton, ACT - 14 Mar 2022 by Roger
Myiagra rubecula (Leaden Flycatcher) at Acton, ACT - 3 Mar 2022 by RodDeb
Asianopis sp. (genus) (Net-casting spider) at Acton, ACT - 23 Feb 2022 by WHall
Elhamma australasiae (Elhamma) at Acton, ACT - 23 Feb 2022 by WHall
Austrorhytida capillacea (Common Southern Carnivorous Snail) at Acton, ACT - 28 Jan 2022 by TimL
Mysticarion porrectus (Golden Semi-slug) at Acton, ACT - 28 Jan 2022 by TimL
Netrocoryne repanda (Bronze Flat) at Acton, ACT - 24 Jan 2022 by Christine
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 22 Jan 2022 by Steve_Bok
Anthrax dolabratus (Bee fly) at Acton, ACT - 16 Jan 2022 by Roger
Paracolletes crassipes at Acton, ACT - 16 Jan 2022 by Roger
Mesostigmata (order) (A Mite) at Acton, ACT - 7 Jan 2022 by TimL
Paradoxosomatidae sp. (family) (Millipede) at Acton, ACT - 7 Jan 2022 by TimL
Hypogastrura sp. (genus) (A Springtail) at Acton, ACT - 7 Jan 2022 by TimL
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Acton, ACT - 7 Jan 2022 by TimL
mycenoid at Acton, ACT - 7 Jan 2022 by TimL
Adversaeschna brevistyla (Blue-spotted Hawker) at Acton, ACT - 5 Jan 2022 by Roger
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 1 Jan 2022 by TimL
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 31 Dec 2021 by TimL
Lasioglossum (Homalictus) punctatus (A halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 28 Dec 2021 by Roger
Leioproctus sp. (genus) (Plaster bee) at Acton, ACT - 28 Dec 2021 by Roger
Belenois java (Caper White) at Acton, ACT - 19 Dec 2021 by Roger
Lasioglossum (Callalictus) callomelittinum (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 17 Dec 2021 by AJB
Austroargiolestes icteromelas (Common Flatwing) at Acton, ACT - 13 Dec 2021 by RodDeb
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Acton, ACT - 13 Dec 2021 by RodDeb
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 3 Dec 2021 by TimL
Reduviidae (family) (An assassin bug) at Acton, ACT - 19 Nov 2021 by AndyRussell
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Acton, ACT - 16 Nov 2021 by RodDeb
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Acton, ACT - 16 Nov 2021 by RodDeb
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 10 Nov 2021 by Roger
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 8 Nov 2021 by TimL
Lasioglossum (Callalictus) callomelittinum (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 8 Nov 2021 by Roger
Ectenopsis sp. (March fly) at Acton, ACT - 8 Nov 2021 by Roger
Lasioglossum (Australictus) tertium (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 6 Nov 2021 by PeterA
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Acton, ACT - 1 Nov 2021 by JohnBundock
Pardalotus punctatus (Spotted Pardalote) at Acton, ACT - 10 Aug 2021 by HelenCross
Schizophyllum commune (Split Gill Fungus) at Acton, ACT - 26 Jul 2021 by Christine
Alticini (tribe) (Unidentified flea beetle) at Acton, ACT - 16 Jul 2021 by TimL
Cacomantis flabelliformis (Fan-tailed Cuckoo) at Acton, ACT - 9 Jul 2021 by HelenCross
mycenoid at Acton, ACT - 18 Jun 2021 by TimL
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Acton, ACT - 28 May 2021 by TimL
Curculionidae (family) (Unidentified weevil) at Acton, ACT - 25 May 2021 by TimL
Coprinellus etc. (An Inkcap) at Acton, ACT - 11 May 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Paradoxosomatidae sp. (family) (Millipede) at Acton, ACT - 11 May 2021 by MattFox
Descolea sp. at Acton, ACT - 11 May 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Descolea sp. at Acton, ACT - 11 May 2021 by TimL
Mycena sp. (Mycena) at Acton, ACT - 5 May 2021 by TimL
Hirudinidae sp. (family) (A Striped Leech) at Acton, ACT - 4 May 2021 by TimL
Stiromesostenus sp. (genus) (An ichneumon wasp) at Acton, ACT - 4 May 2021 by TimL
Pachycephala pectoralis (Golden Whistler) at Acton, ACT - 22 Apr 2021 by RodDeb
Oryctolagus cuniculus (European Rabbit) at Acton, ACT - 22 Apr 2021 by RodDeb
Lycoperdon perlatum (Gem Studded Puffball) at Acton, ACT - 16 Apr 2021 by AndyRussell
Pseudomantis albofimbriata (False garden mantis) at Acton, ACT - 16 Apr 2021 by TimL
Lycoperdon perlatum (Gem Studded Puffball) at Acton, ACT - 14 Apr 2021 by WHall
Cacomantis flabelliformis (Fan-tailed Cuckoo) at Acton, ACT - 13 Apr 2021 by HelenCross
Turdus merula (Eurasian Blackbird) at Acton, ACT - 13 Apr 2021 by HelenCross
Myzomela sanguinolenta (Scarlet Honeyeater) at Acton, ACT - 31 Mar 2021 by RodDeb
Petroica rosea (Rose Robin) at Acton, ACT - 26 Mar 2021 by Christine
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 24 Mar 2021 by ebristow
Nerthra sp. (genus) (Toad Bug) at Acton, ACT - 23 Mar 2021 by Roger
Arion intermedius (Hedgehog Slug) at Acton, ACT - 23 Mar 2021 by TimL
Anisorhynchodemus guttatus (Speckled flatworm) at Acton, ACT - 21 Mar 2021 by TimL
Megastigmus sp. (genus) (Parasitic wasp) at Acton, ACT - 18 Mar 2021 by TimL
Scolia (Discolia) verticalis (Yellow-headed hairy flower wasp) at Acton, ACT - 18 Mar 2021 by TimL
Mysticarion porrectus (Golden Semi-slug) at Acton, ACT - 16 Mar 2021 by AlisonMilton
Lepidoptera unclassified ADULT moth (Unidentified - Moth) at Acton, ACT - 16 Mar 2021 by AlisonMilton
Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) primulipictus (Hylaeine colletid bee) at Acton, ACT - 8 Mar 2021 by PeterA
Bembix sp. (genus) (Unidentified Bembix sand wasp) at Acton, ACT - 4 Mar 2021 by Tammy
Lipotriches (Austronomia) ferricauda (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 4 Mar 2021 by Tammy
Scolia (Discolia) verticalis (Yellow-headed hairy flower wasp) at Acton, ACT - 4 Mar 2021 by Tammy
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Acton, ACT - 1 Mar 2021 by JohnBundock
Pseudonaja textilis (Eastern Brown Snake) at Acton, ACT - 28 Feb 2021 by TimL
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 28 Feb 2021 by TimL
Bisallardiana gymnopleura (Brown flower chafer) at Acton, ACT - 26 Feb 2021 by WHall
Odontomyia decipiens (Green Soldier Fly) at Acton, ACT - 26 Feb 2021 by TimL
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Acton, ACT - 26 Feb 2021 by TimL
Dispar compacta (Barred Skipper) at Acton, ACT - 26 Feb 2021 by TimL
Ctenotus taeniolatus (Copper-tailed Skink) at Acton, ACT - 26 Feb 2021 by TimL
Lipotriches (Austronomia) ferricauda (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 21 Feb 2021 by TimL
Apis mellifera (European honey bee) at Acton, ACT - 20 Feb 2021 by TimL
Lipotriches (Austronomia) ferricauda (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 20 Feb 2021 by TimL
Oligochaeta (class) (Unidentified earthworm) at Acton, ACT - 20 Feb 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Ichneumonoidea (Superfamily) (A species of parasitic wasp) at Acton, ACT - 19 Feb 2021 by TimL
Eutrichopidia latinus (Yellow-banded Day-moth) at Acton, ACT - 15 Feb 2021 by RodDeb
Lipotriches (Austronomia) phanerura (Halictid Bee) at Acton, ACT - 15 Feb 2021 by RodDeb
Thereutria amaraca (Spine-legged Robber Fly) at Acton, ACT - 15 Feb 2021 by RodDeb
Lipotriches (Austronomia) ferricauda (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 15 Feb 2021 by RodDeb
Megachile sp. (several subgenera) (Resin Bees) at Acton, ACT - 15 Feb 2021 by RodDeb
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Acton, ACT - 15 Feb 2021 by RodDeb
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Acton, ACT - 15 Feb 2021 by RodDeb
Thomisidae (family) (Unidentified Crab spider or Flower spider) at Acton, ACT - 12 Feb 2021 by TimL
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT - 12 Feb 2021 by TimL
Nyctemera amicus (Senecio Moth, Magpie Moth, Cineraria Moth) at Acton, ACT - 10 Feb 2021 by MatthewFrawley

1  2  3  4  5  6 

Location information

Sighting information

  • 4 Abundance
  • 14 Oct 2019 12:10 PM Recorded on
  • TimL Recorded by
  • Priority species lists

    ACT Most Wanted!

Additional information

  • 25mm to 50mm Animal size
  • Unknown Gender
  • Breeding behaviour Breeding behaviour

Species information

Record quality

  • Overall Fit for scientific/research use
  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
2,153,542 sightings of 19,948 species in 6,481 locations from 11,431 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.