Unknown Beetle seen at tree-top walk in Singapore

[NickSeth]

Hi. I saw this beetle along a tree top walk in singaore. I have a seen i a few times in Singapore, but could never quite I.D it, can someone help?

 

[Matt K]

This is not a beetle. It is a type of fly.

 

[Endagr8]

It looks like some type of bee to me.

 

[dtknow]

A type of carpenter bee most likely.

 

[ZergFront]

A type of carpenter bee most likely.

I would have to agree.

Once in Hawaii, I saw bees so large I didn't think they were bees but beetles but yeah, local guy said they were just carpenter bees. They pollinate the passion fruit flowers.

 

[spiderfield]

Definitely looks like a type of bee, as opposed to a beetle or fly. One thing to note is that flies have one set of wings, whereas bees and wasps have two...the second set in flies having evolved into balancing structures called halteres. Awesome pic and find!

 

[dtknow]

Quite imposing creatures...territorial. I had one chewing up some wooden structure in the yard. Got close to it and fired 5 quick "heavy duty" rounds off my rubberband gun.(used usually for flies/black widows) It was apparently so perturbed by this that it buzzed within two feet of my head, holding this position...which gave me a chance to whack it with the butt end of gun(after numerous failed attempts :wall:...picture a guy hopping up and down whacking at a huge black bee with the butt end of a plastic gun). I was a bit mixed about doing it as they are great pollinators but they really do serious damage when they nest where you don't want them to.

 

[Anthony Straus]

Two sets of wings means it's definitely not a true fly (Diptera) definitely no halteres there.

Edit: spiderfield said it first...should really read the whole thread before posting.

 

[myrmecophile]

Without question it is one of the many carpenter bees native to that area.

 

[NickSeth]

thanks for the info, all

 

[snakebytes]

Definitely looks like a type of bee, as opposed to a beetle or fly. One thing to note is that flies have one set of wings, whereas bees and wasps have two...the second set in flies having evolved into balancing structures called halteres. Awesome pic and find!

To add on to this: Beetles usually have two sets of wings, but the first set (top set) is usually hardened and called Elytra. When beetles fly they often raise the elytra to expose the hind wings which do the flapping.

 

[Kaidin]

A type of carpenter bee most likely.

exactly ! it is carpenter bee indeed, Xylocopa sp. (I guess Xylocopa latipes). I had few specimens of them, and saw alive ones too.