Xylocopa micans, F, Side, GA, Baker County

Here is a lovely carpenter bee from the southeastern part of the U.S., a bit smaller than X. viginica and as far as I know nests in twigs rather and does no damage to timbers (not that X. virginica does much in the way of real structural damage). This would be a wonderful giant bee if it could grown to the size of a poodle, perhaps some genetic modification is in order, as exothermic beings they would not eat as much food as dogs and cats and have the added benefit of being vegans. The world is full of possibilities. Collected by the fantastic Sabrie Breland in South Georgia Flatwoods. Photography by...Brooke Alexander. Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200. USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.