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
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Identification history

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

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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.

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Nearby sightings

Page 5 of 6 - image sightings only

Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Acton, ACT - 30 Nov 2018 by Alison Milton
Amegilla sp. (genus) (Blue Banded Bee) at Acton, ACT - 25 Nov 2018 by TimL
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Pentatomoidea (superfamily) (Unidentified Shield or Stink bug) at Acton, ACT - 21 Nov 2018 by TimL
Pardalotus punctatus (Spotted Pardalote) at Acton, ACT - 16 Nov 2018 by RodDeb
Meriphus fullo (Flower Weevil) at Acton, ACT - 13 Nov 2018 by JanetRussell
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Acton, ACT - 12 Nov 2018 by TimL
Pentatomoidea (superfamily) (Unidentified Shield or Stink bug) at Acton, ACT - 10 Nov 2018 by Tim L
Lipotriches sp. (genus) (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 10 Nov 2018 by TimL
Eopsaltria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin) at Acton, ACT - 29 Oct 2018 by RodDeb
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Acton, ACT - 26 Oct 2018 by RodDeb
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 26 Oct 2018 by RodDeb
Hemicordulia tau (Tau Emerald) at Acton, ACT - 26 Oct 2018 by Christine
Wallabia bicolor (Swamp Wallaby) at Acton, ACT - 18 Oct 2018 by Christine
Periscepta polysticta (Spotted Day Moth) at Acton, ACT - 15 Oct 2018 by JohnBundock
Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (New Holland Honeyeater) at Acton, ACT - 12 Oct 2018 by frostydog
Turdus merula (Eurasian Blackbird) at Acton, ACT - 6 Oct 2018 by RodDeb
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus (Satin Bowerbird) at Acton, ACT - 5 Oct 2018 by GlennMcMellon
Pseudonaja textilis (Eastern Brown Snake) at Acton, ACT - 2 Oct 2018 by HelenCross
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 21 Sep 2018 by RodDeb
Pachycephala pectoralis (Golden Whistler) at Acton, ACT - 13 Sep 2018 by RodDeb
Lemna disperma (Common Duck-weed) at Acton, ACT - 9 Sep 2018 by PeteWoodall
Altica sp. (genus) (Flea beetle) at Acton, ACT - 2 Sep 2018 by Tim L
Chenonetta jubata (Australian Wood Duck) at Acton, ACT - 21 Aug 2018 by RodDeb
Acanthiza pusilla (Brown Thornbill) at Acton, ACT - 16 Aug 2018 by RodDeb
Eopsaltria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin) at Acton, ACT - 1 Aug 2018 by Alison Milton
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Canberra Central, ACT - 23 Jul 2018 by RodDeb
Eopsaltria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin) at Acton, ACT - 19 Jul 2018 by RodDeb
Cerrena zonata at Acton, ACT - 3 Jul 2018 by Heino1
Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (New Holland Honeyeater) at Acton, ACT - 3 Jul 2018 by roymcd
Acanthiza pusilla (Brown Thornbill) at Acton, ACT - 25 Jun 2018 by RodDeb
Hydromys chrysogaster (Rakali or Water Rat) at Acton, ACT - 12 Jun 2018 by Alison Milton
Apis mellifera (European honey bee) at Acton, ACT - 25 May 2018 by Tim L
Megastigmus sp. (genus) (Parasitic wasp) at Acton, ACT - 18 May 2018 by TimL
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 20 Apr 2018 by Tim L
Lasioglossum (Homalictus) punctatus (A halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 20 Apr 2018 by PeterA
Delias nigrina (Black Jezebel) at Acton, ACT - 19 Apr 2018 by MichaelMulvaney
Hylaeus (Prosopisteron) littleri (Hylaeine colletid bee) at Acton, ACT - 9 Apr 2018 by PeterA
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 5 Apr 2018 by RodDeb
Exoneura sp. (genus) (A reed bee) at Acton, ACT - 5 Apr 2018 by Alison Milton
Chironomidae (family) (Non-biting Midge) at Acton, ACT - 5 Apr 2018 by Alison Milton
Geron sp. (genus) (Slender Bee Fly) at Acton, ACT - 5 Apr 2018 by Alison Milton
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Acton, ACT - 5 Apr 2018 by Alison Milton
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 5 Apr 2018 by Alison Milton
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 5 Apr 2018 by RodDeb
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 1 Apr 2018 by RodDeb
Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (New Holland Honeyeater) at Acton, ACT - 1 Apr 2018 by RodDeb
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 1 Apr 2018 by RodDeb
Pardalotus punctatus (Spotted Pardalote) at Acton, ACT - 29 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Acanthiza lineata (Striated Thornbill) at Acton, ACT - 29 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Acton, ACT - 28 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Amegilla sp. (genus) (Blue Banded Bee) at Acton, ACT - 28 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Acton, ACT - 22 Mar 2018 by DerekC
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 19 Mar 2018 by jbromilow50
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 19 Mar 2018 by jbromilow50
Phonognatha graeffei (Leaf Curling Spider) at Acton, ACT - 15 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Scolypopa australis (Passionvine hopper, Fluffy bum) at Acton, ACT - 15 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Zanda funerea (Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo) at Acton, ACT - 15 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Amegilla sp. (genus) (Blue Banded Bee) at Acton, ACT - 15 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 15 Mar 2018 by DerekC
Thyreus caeruleopunctatus (Chequered cuckoo bee) at Acton, ACT - 15 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Lipotriches sp. (genus) (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT - 15 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Apis mellifera (European honey bee) at Acton, ACT - 15 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 14 Mar 2018 by roymcd
Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella) at Acton, ACT - 12 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (New Holland Honeyeater) at Acton, ACT - 8 Mar 2018 by RodDeb
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 4 Mar 2018 by David
Synthemis eustalacta (Swamp Tigertail) at Acton, ACT - 27 Feb 2018 by roymcd
Zanda funerea (Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo) at Acton, ACT - 22 Feb 2018 by Alison Milton
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Acton, ACT - 20 Feb 2018 by roymcd
Austroargiolestes icteromelas (Common Flatwing) at Acton, ACT - 17 Feb 2018 by Christine
Corcorax melanorhamphos (White-winged Chough) at Acton, ACT - 16 Feb 2018 by Christine
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Acton, ACT - 16 Feb 2018 by Christine
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Acton, ACT - 5 Feb 2018 by RodDeb
Sericornis frontalis (White-browed Scrubwren) at Acton, ACT - 5 Feb 2018 by RodDeb
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 5 Feb 2018 by RodDeb
Rutilia sp. (genus) (A Rutilia bristle fly, subgenus unknown) at Acton, ACT - 3 Feb 2018 by Qwerty
Netrocoryne repanda (Bronze Flat) at Acton, ACT - 2 Feb 2018 by Qwerty
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Acton, ACT - 31 Jan 2018 by roymcd
Comptosia stria (A bee fly) at Acton, ACT - 24 Nov 2017 by Christine
Malurus cyaneus (Superb Fairywren) at Acton, ACT - 16 Jun 2017 by Alison Milton
Acanthiza pusilla (Brown Thornbill) at Acton, ACT - 16 Jun 2017 by Alison Milton
Cormobates leucophaea (White-throated Treecreeper) at Acton, ACT - 16 Jun 2017 by Alison Milton
Hypholoma sp. (Hypholoma) at Acton, ACT - 16 Jun 2017 by Alison Milton
Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella) at Acton, ACT - 4 Jun 2017 by SallyandPeter
Leucopaxillus eucalyptorum (Leucopaxillus eucalyptorum) at Acton, ACT - 22 May 2017 by Heino
Acanthiza pusilla (Brown Thornbill) at Acton, ACT - 13 Apr 2017 by Qwerty
Pachycephala pectoralis (Golden Whistler) at Acton, ACT - 13 Apr 2017 by Qwerty
Bombyliidae (family) (Unidentified Bee fly) at Acton, ACT - 15 Mar 2017 by Qwerty
Hylaeus (Gnathoprosopis) amiculinus (Hylaeine colletid bee) at Acton, ACT - 12 Mar 2017 by PeterA
Amegilla (Zonamegilla) asserta (Blue Banded Bee) at Acton, ACT - 6 Mar 2017 by PeterA
Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Acton, ACT - 22 Feb 2017 by Christine
Malurus cyaneus (Superb Fairywren) at Acton, ACT - 24 Jan 2017 by Qwerty
Macropus giganteus (Eastern Grey Kangaroo) at Acton, ACT - 6 Jan 2017 by roymcd
Scaptia patula (March fly) at Acton, ACT - 20 Dec 2016 by JudithRoach
Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella) at Acton, ACT - 26 Nov 2016 by Alison Milton
Ctenotus taeniolatus (Copper-tailed Skink) at Acton, ACT - 26 Nov 2016 by AlisonMilton
Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella) at Acton, ACT - 27 Aug 2016 by Alison Milton
Austroscolia soror (Blue Flower Wasp) at Acton, ACT - 17 Jun 2016 by KMcCue
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 17 Jan 2016 by SkyFire747

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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
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