Carpenter bee on lavender

Late-season lavender still had a few carpenter bees working it in late October. The bare, glossy black abdomen is the giveaway — it’s what separates carpenter bees from the similarly fuzzy bumblebees at a glance.

Why it matters

Eastern carpenter bees are solitary native pollinators that nest by boring tunnels into bare, unpainted wood rather than living in colonies. They’re often mistaken for bumblebees and unfairly feared, but they’re not aggressive and are effective pollinators of native plants.

Getting the shot

Shot with the 24-70mm at close range rather than a dedicated macro lens — f/4 kept just enough depth of field across her body while still melting the lavender spike into soft color behind her.