Common name(s): Carpenter bee
A large bee, reaching slightly more than 20mm. Female is mainly black. A thin ring of whitish yellow around the outer edges of the thorax, giving a "collared" appearance. Male is light yellowish overall.
This species is quite widely distributed through Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China; there are probably several colour forms or subspecies. The one shown here is the one found in Hong Kong.
This is a fairly common species in Hong Kong during the hot summer months. It frequently appears in urban parks, and can be seen feeding from flowers in sunny weather. The nest is usually in a fallen log in forest; I have never seen it nest near urban areas. The male looks quite different from the female. I will add a photo of one later if I manage to take one in the coming spring and summer. The male, like many other carpenter bees, stakes out a small tree or shrub as his territory, alternately perching on a vantage point and driving off other males or any other flying insect, or hovering and flying slowly, patrolling in a most alert manner.