Female Carpenter Bee and the Indigo Spires Salvia

The Carpenter Bees Xylocopa varipuncta really are attracted to the Indigo Spires salvia blossoms.

Indigo Spires salvia produces nectar, and blooms nearly all year round here in the Bay Area.

I have only seen female carpenter bees in the garden, such as the one above, approaching an Indigo Spire whorl.

You can see that she is large, shiny and stout-bodied.

Note the short, dagger-like proboscis.

Here she is hanging upside down from one of the Indigo Spire blossoms, with wings in motion.