Insects of New Junction - Green burrowing bee (Ctenocolletes smaragdinus)

Image: Jie Yu  

This glorious metallic green species is much larger than a honeybee. It is one of 12 species of its genus and, like most of them, is confined to W.A. It is found in heathlands of the southern wheatbelt and southern goldfields and flies during the spring flowering season. It nests solitarily and its nest entrances are very inconspicuous.