About Xylocopa californica Cresson, 1864
This section describes key physical features of Xylocopa californica, the California carpenter bee. Its head is larger and thicker than its thorax, and head size differs between females and males: females have bigger heads, while males have narrower heads. The entire body is black, with bluish or greenish iridescent reflections. Males usually have at least a few light-colored hairs on their pronotum (the dorsal section of the prothorax) and abdominal segments. All California carpenter bees have hair on their heads; most hair is found on the lower head and cheeks, while the top of the head only has sparse hairs. They have dark wings that lack a stigma, and their total body length ranges from 13 to 30 mm.
The genus Xylocopa contains approximately 400 species worldwide. Xylocopa californica is typically found in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northwestern Mexico. It is especially abundant alongside Xylocopa sonorina in California's Central Valley, Southern California, and the Mojave Desert. This species is an agriculturally beneficial insect and pollinator for a wide range of native plant species found in California chaparral, woodlands, and deserts. California carpenter bees are active during hot seasons. They are classified as endothermic insects, because they absorb heat in desert conditions. When their bodies absorb too much heat, they must limit their total flight time, and only fly during the cooler parts of the day.
