Male Valley Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa varipuncta)

Photo by Matthew Field, via Wikipedia

I saw one of these guys in the old garden yesterday, but was cameraless at the time.  I've seen the black female Valley Carpenter Bee, but never the male.  This guy was just so golden, especially in the fading evening light.  These bees are just so big and somewhat awkward, almost like a blimp with a bad engine, bopping down on the flower heads.  I can see how they get their common name of "bumble".

I'll try to catch a photo of him myself this weekend.

More info on Wikipedia and What's That Bug?