Call all entomologists

[Boesman88]

Okay, so maybe this is not a snake, spider or reptile, but I would like to know if anyone has seen this bee around. From what I can read up it appears to be Violet Carpenter Bee, but all sources reckon these guys are only to be found in the northern hemisphere.

Anyways, its a pretty little bug.

[Searcher]

Edit: Post delete, wrong bug.

[jeeperscreepersXJ]

https://observation.org/species/17198/observations/?

It was spotted in Knysna a few weeks ago

[Pjansen83]

I had one of those in my garden last year May if I remember correctly. Google search brought up Carpenter bee Robber fly. Didn't have the blue colors though. Completely black except for one white stripe.

[Bierbees]

If you google Xylocopa, you will find the Carpenter Bees of which there are +/- 500 species. Both of the pics are of the same family of carpentor bees which are both present in the cape province.

[Boesman88]

If you google Xylocopa, you will find the Carpenter Bees of which there are +/- 500 species. Both of the pics are of the same family of carpentor bees which are both present in the cape province.

and the violet variant now also present in Gauteng