Xylocopa valga is a species of carpenter bee common to: western, central and southern Europe, except for far northern latitudes; the Caucasus; Middle East; Central Asia; and Mongolia.[3] The species has become extinct in Latvia and Lithuania.[4]

Xylocopa valga
Carpenter-bee (Xylocopa valga) foraging Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) flowers.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Xylocopa
Species:
X. valga
Binomial name
Xylocopa valga

Description

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This solitary bee has a black and blue coloured body, 20–27 mm in length, and densely covered with purple hairs. The small wings also have a purple tint. The bee creates cavity nests by gnawing the wood in the trunks of dead trees and in old wooden structures. It inhabits both forests and urban areas.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Terzo, M.; Nieto, A. (2013). "Xylocopa valga". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T13325229A13325391.
  2. ^ "Xylocopa valga Gerstaecker 1872". Fauna Europaea. 21 June 2004. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  3. ^ a b Панфилов Д. В., Березин М. В. "ПЧЕЛА - ПЛОТНИК - Xylocopa valga Gerstaecker, 1872" (in Russian). Retrieved 2012-01-14.
  4. ^ He, Chunling; Zhu, Chaodong (2020-07-09). Ovadia, Ofer (ed.). "Nesting and foraging behavior of Xylocopa valga in the Ejina Oasis, China". PLOS ONE. 15 (7): e0235769. Bibcode:2020PLoSO..1535769H. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0235769. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 7347186. PMID 32645055.