Xylocopa tabaniformis androleuca Michener 1940

Xylocopa (Notoxylocopa) tabaniformis androleuca Michener

This carpenter bee, which occurs in the mountains of the more arid environments of the western United States and adjacent Mexico (Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and transmontane California), has been found on occasion in numbers at the flowers of Larrea and other desert shrubs and trees. While something is known of its nesting and floral-visiting habits (Hurd, 1958; O'Brien and Hurd, 1965), its greatest period of observed diurnal activity appears to be concentrated during the evening hours shortly before and after sunset. At least at one locality (Surprise Canyon, Panamint Mountains, California), however, a few males and females were noted during the sunny early morning hours (0600–0900, PDT) in the quest of nectar at the flowers of Larrea (females) and Stanleya pinnata (males). No additional activity was noted until midafternoon when a few males were again observed at the flowers of Stanleya.