These are large, wood-boring bees, common in urban areas and sometimes considered pests.
Black, with faint metallic tints; dorsum of thorax yellow pubescent...2
Terga 5 and 6 entirely black pubescent. .Xylocopa virginica virginica
Dark purplish black; legs entirely dark black pubescent...2
Central bare area of scutum more extensive, with a marginal fringe of conspicuous, black pubescence
....................Xylocopa virginica krombeini.
County Records: Leon, Miami-Dade; It is likely nearly throughout Florida.
Locations:
Dates: throughout the year; Feb. 25-Nov. 25 (Graenicher data). 1-17-31 (E. Miller, Pinecrest) to 10-16-79 (J. Lewis, Levee in Everglades) (UM collections).
Plants: polylectic. Bidens alba, Crotalaria sp., Cirsium sp., Ludwigia sp., Pluchea odorata (UM); Serenoa serrulata, Sabal palmetto, Sarcostemma clausa, Solanum bahamense, Solanum wendlandi, Chamaecrista brachiata, Crotalaria pumila, Dalbergia ecastophyllum, Bidens alba (Graenicher 1930).
Notes: A neotropical subgenus, intrusive in warm temperate areas (primarily southeastern, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic coastal plain.
County Records: Alachua, Baker, Clay, Duval, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Highlands, Hillsborough, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, St. Johns.
Locations:
Dates: throughout the year
Plants: polylectic
Notes: This more Northern subspecies extends to central peninsular Florida. It is replaced by the endemic Florida subspecies X. virginica krombeini in extreme southern Florida.
County Records: Alachua, Citrus, Glades, Highlands, Hillsburough, Lake, Lee, Levy, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Palm Beach, Seminole.
Locations: Eustis, Gulf Hammock, Winter Park
Dates: throughout the year
Plants: polylectic, Jacquemontia sp.
Notes: This is an endemic subspecies restricted to Florida.
