It's A Locust: Thurs 23 Nov 2023

[loobyloo]

(on another local expat site recently)

author: DON'T KILL HER !!! (photo showing bee - sorry unable to copy)
This is a bee in the gardens right now. Her name is the Xylocopy bee. This is the largest bee in Europe (2.5 to 3 cm).
She doesn't bite (unless we aren't chasing her, of course). The Xyloscope is a "lonely" bee. But they can live in colonies, that is,
side by side. Black with blue wings... she is very beautiful but can be scary, her flight is fast and very noisy, but she is not aggressive
and rarely bites. It must be protected because it is rare and very useful... some people confuse it with the Asian hornet!! Thank you for passing this long...



Yep have the odd one (maybe the same one) nearly eveyday this time of year.... I think he's looking to nest under my pergola ****

We have these beautiful bees in our garden ****

They fly past like a B52 bomber. ****

We have several in the garden. So glad to know what they are. ****

[loobyloo]

(on another local expat site recently)

author:
This landed on my towel whilst at Aqualand Cadiz. Does anyone know what it is.



They have digged into my terrace beams....had to take them all down. ****

It’s a carpenter bee ****

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Info found on internet
What are Carpenter Bees?
Carpenter bees get their common name from their habit of boring into wood. Sometimes referred to as “wood bees,” carpenter bees do not actually eat wood,
but cause damage to structures by drilling circular holes to create tunnels inside wood. Unlike other common bees, such as honeybees and bumble bees that live in colonies,
carpenter bees are not social insects and build individual nests into trees outdoors or into the frames, eaves or sides of buildings.
Male carpenter bees do not sting, though females may in rare situations if provoked.

What Do Carpenter Bees Look Like?
Carpenter bees look similar to bumble bees in appearance, but they lack yellow markings on their abdomens. Instead, carpenter bee abdomens are smooth and shiny,
whereas bumble bees have hairy, yellow abdomens. Physical features of carpenter bees may vary slightly, as there are seven different species of carpenter bees across the U.S.
and hundreds worldwide. Eastern carpenter bees, for example, are the kind that strongly emulate the appearance of bumble bees, with sleek, black bodies
and a patch of yellow hair on their thorax. Other species like the California and female valley carpenter bees have more metallic, colorful bodies.

Signs of an Infestation
The most common signs of a carpenter bee infestation are the round, smooth holes that carpenter bees bore into wood, hence the nickname “wood bees.” To identify early damage to buildings,
homeowners should regularly inspect the perimeter of the home and surrounding property for the presence of these holes and hovering bees.
Since carpenter bees prefer bare wood, painting and staining wood can sometimes help deter them. However, they will occasionally attack stained or painted wood. To avoid carpenter bees and
prevent them from entering the home, seal cracks and crevices along the property’s foundation and walls with a silicone-based caulk, repair any tears in screens, and always keep doors closed.

[loobyloo]

(on another local expat site recently)

author
OK, we get these blue carpenter bees flying round the garden like B52 bombers, and I often see people asking
"Do they sting?", to which the answer is, "They are very gentle and aren't aggressive." Not really the answer.
Well, I can now give a more authoritative answer which is, "Yes they do, and it bl**dy well hurts."

J was raking leaves in her flip flops, and managed to flick a (probably sick/dying) bee so that it ended up under her toes,
but on top of the flip flop, whereupon, not unreasonably it stung her.

Apparently the sensation was way worse than any other wasp or bee sting ever and hurt savagely for hours at the sting site.
Then her foot, ankle and lower leg swelled up and were so painful that she she could barely shuffle around, even with a walking stick.
3 days on and she still is finding walking a problem, and the leg is still swollen.:



That’s terrible. Has she had any medication. Thanks for informing us ****

I was there today and she showed me her foot it was very swollen and painful. Looks nasty! Get well soon ****

[loobyloo]

(on another local expat site recently)

author: While cutting the leevs of yuka trees I saw this great big grass hopper? he came n sead hello!!there very noisy in the evening




Shoo him out of your garden promptly it's a locust and they can eat your plants very quickly, I had one and he ate my hibiscus plant ****

It's a locust mike. Bigger and hungrier cousin of a grasshopper.... mind he doesn't eat your favourite plants while he's there. ****