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Buzzing Bee

At Ngala tented camp is a flowering bush that emanates loud buzzing sounds as you walk past. On closer inspection I found a massive black-winged bee, vastly different to a honeybee. It was kind enough to hold still for a macro photo while performing what I later learned to be buzz pollination. If you listen carefully, you’ll notice a change in the frequency of the buzz once the bee lands on the flower and clasps the anther. It rises slightly to “middle C” as the rate at which it beats its wings changes. The bee disengages its flight muscles from the wings to reduce unnecessary wing movement and uses these muscles to shake the anthers violently. The anthers respond to the sound frequency caused by the vibrations by opening pores at their tips to shower the little insect in pollen. The carpenter bees eat the high-protein rich pollen and wipe it down their bodies to fill small sacks on their lower legs, ready to carry their plunder back to the hive.

Carpenter bee - Xylocopa

The common name “carpenter bee” derives from their nesting behaviour; nearly all species burrow into hard plant material such as dead wood or bamboo. Many species in this enormous genus are difficult to tell apart; most species are all black, or primarily black with some yellow or white pubescence. Non-professionals commonly confuse carpenter bees with bumblebees; carpenter bees are larger than honeybees, hairy, and their wings make a loud buzzing sound while flying. Carpenter bees do not produce honey but are important pollinators of crops and wild plants. While they do have quite a painful sting, they are not aggressive and only sting in defence. Individuals live independently of the others or in small groups.

Nikon D300, DX format, AF-Nikkor 105mm f 2.8 Macro lens, 1/80th sec @ f11, ISO 800
Photograph by Andrew Woodburn