Female Carpenter Bee

STM

Senior Member
I did not put this in macro because the magnification was around 1:2

Outwardly, Carpenter Bees very closely resemble Bumble Bees in both size and shape but there are actually some notable differences, a few of which include Bumble Bees have fur covered abdomens whereas Carpenter Bees have fur-less shiny black ones. Bumble Bees are social and usually live in nests below ground. Carpenter Bees, for the most part, are solitary and make their nests by boring into soft wood. Both male and female Bumble Bees have stingers but only female Carpenter Bees have them. Both of them, however, are very docile and very reluctant to sting. Unlike Honey bees, their stingers are smooth so they can still multiple times.

It took 50 images focus stacked in Zerene to get this female sharp from end to end. D850 and 55mm f/2.8 AIS Micro Nikkor on a PB-6 bellows.

female carpenter bee.jpg
 

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
Both male and female Bumble Bees have stingers but only female Carpenter Bees have them.

That's totally false. Only female bees, of any kind, have stingers.

The stinger is a modification of an ovipositor, a very specifically female organ.

The same is true of all Hymopterans that have stingers—bees, wasps, hornets, etc. A male Hymopteran would no more have a stinger than a male mammal would have a uterus.
 
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STM

Senior Member
That's totally false. Only female bees, of any kind, have stingers.<br>
<br>
The stinger is a modification of an ovipositor, a very specifically female organ.<br>
<br>
The same is true of all Hymopterans that have stingers—bees, wasps, hornets, etc. A male Hymopteran would no more have a stinger than a male mammal would have a uterus.
All well and good, what do you think about the IMAGE, since that is what is really posted. This is after all a PHOTOGRAPHY site, not an entomology site.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Amazing image, STM! So was it alive - asking because you mentioned shooting 50 focus stacked images.
 

Robin W

Senior Member
I am with Cindy this is an amazing photo, but how did you get the bee to hold still for 50 images to be taken?

I did not put this in macro because the magnification was around 1:2

Outwardly, Carpenter Bees very closely resemble Bumble Bees in both size and shape but there are actually some notable differences, a few of which include Bumble Bees have fur covered abdomens whereas Carpenter Bees have fur-less shiny black ones. Bumble Bees are social and usually live in nests below ground. Carpenter Bees, for the most part, are solitary and make their nests by boring into soft wood. Both male and female Bumble Bees have stingers but only female Carpenter Bees have them. Both of them, however, are very docile and very reluctant to sting. Unlike Honey bees, their stingers are smooth so they can still multiple times.

It took 50 images focus stacked in Zerene to get this female sharp from end to end. D850 and 55mm f/2.8 AIS Micro Nikkor on a PB-6 bellows.

View attachment 339645
 

STM

Senior Member
I am with Cindy this is an amazing photo, but how did you get the bee to hold still for 50 images to be taken?

This bee was euthanized using ethyl acetate in a tupperware "kill jar". It is an asphyxiant that works quickly and humanely. The biggest advantage of it over freezing is that with the acetate their legs don't fold up like they do with you freeze them. They remain pliable so you can pose them easily.
 
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