4828. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300mm lens. Male White-cheeked Carpenter Bee

 

Canon R5, 75-300mm lens, 230mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5, ISO 400
4 Feb 2026, 11.50am. Orchard Road public garden near Rolex Bldg    

 

The male white-cheeked carpenter bee (Xylocopa aestuans), often found in Southeast Asia, is distinct from the black-and-yellow female, appearing covered in fine, dense yellow or golden-brown hairs. Males are roughly 20-30 mm long, possess large eyes that nearly touch, a white patch on their faces, and no stingers. 

Key Characteristics of the Male White-cheeked Carpenter Bee:

• Appearance: Unlike the females which are primarily black, males are covered in fine, golden-yellowish, or brownish hairs.
• "White Cheeks": Despite being generally yellow, both sexes are named for a small patch of white hair located behind their eyes.
• Facial Markings: Males typically have a large white to yellow patch on their faces just below their antennae.
• Eyes: They possess large green eyes that touch at the top of their heads.
• Behavior: Males are known to "dive-bomb" or buzz around people, but because they lack a stinger, they are harmless to humans.
• Habitat: Commonly found in gardens and tropical regions, often seen around wood where they are active pollinators. 

While sometimes confused with other species, Xylocopa aestuans is distinct in its coloration, with the