Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata

4 Golden-Green Carpenter Bee at Yarralumla, ACT

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Identification history

Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata	28 Oct 2021	michael.batley
Xylocopa aeratus	28 Oct 2021	PeterA
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata	28 Oct 2021	PeterA

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Significant sighting

MichaelMulvaney noted:

29 Oct 2021

This is only the fourth recorded location of this bee in our region. I wonder whether the Botanic Gardens population is spreading or it was on Stirling Ridge for some time. It is flying to another rare species Dianella longifolia sp Benambra - which I think is buzz pollinated

User's notes

Poor image but, as far as I know, the first sighting of a green carpenter bee outside of the ANBG. This one was seen on Stirling Ridge in Yarralumla.

7 comments

AlisonMilton wrote:

28 Oct 2021

Fantastic. However, I think the option you have chosen is one of the duplicates in the Drop lists. Try changing your species to Xylocopa aeratus. This is the one being used by CNM. A fantastic sightingn but sorry to burst your bubble, according to CNM there has also been a sighting in Theodore and one in Gundaroo. Still a great find.

PeterA wrote:

28 Oct 2021

Thanks Alison - I missed those...still exciting though.

AlisonMilton wrote:

28 Oct 2021

Yes very exciting. Just need to change the suggested species to the one used by CNM.

michael.batley wrote:

28 Oct 2021

The use of subgenera in scientific names is optional, but my understanding is that this site prefers the names used in the Australian Faunal directory and in the present case they include the subgenus.

AlisonMilton wrote:

29 Oct 2021

Just a silly point. I tried looking for Stirling Ridge on Google Maps and found it's actually called Stirling Park.

RogerF wrote:

4 Nov 2021

As pointed out earlier there have been several sightings of MGCM outside the ANBG. Unforunately I have not been able, as yet, to assess the numbers of MGCB emerging in ANBG this spring due to its closure. That will soon be rectified. It is possible that MGCB females are dispersing from the more abundant coastal populations rather than ANBG. It is a strong-flying, long-lived species quite capabale of covering such distances providing it finds fuel ie nectar on the way. There is a great abundance of this resource this spring.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

4 Nov 2021

Thanks Roger

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