![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PCm-_0ivWyWCCtLMrcK6B5gVy6vIbc-7nv4sjhUsBeYxUDPxnktikAINS0wE_Z2k-F2ZRN7ME_GTSVokiu303omqycIlgT8sLEnTTQGD-7_1T0VOZcfIBswBHG_jGNJLSLtSdRPsl-Gl/s400/small-bee-on-Helianthus-hir.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8eTh35fQGai6ynU6UOS_54NVSSIxw2ruyqLmGsXnz1OVrYcBTefUnna460GAckhMG8ztfqtx8owmHZe1t-vrlpi9_Z6W3zWhzvRq5qJcu7LBxe6WDAhaPXkDksGgyt97XRTOG1gnLLUr/s320/carpenter-bee-foraging-on-S.jpg)
The big carpenter bees with their smooth black abdomens are the biggest, except for the occasional queen bumblebee. They visit a variety of different flowers, and are strong flyers. They're not above 'robbing' nectar from Salvias, either, poking holes at the base of the flowers, thereby circumventing entering the flower 'correctly'.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLhs-rKsm0uW0N3VKQoJALeONeqLs0pRTaqcZhElHSaGualrvOPXW9A3l74V9vpJSdSw-jrTKu6RN-NFPYDQD166Yj8Cv-BLSPQOiZGk-tGMSjAG5WtT7GkgSBC7k9GqCBW3bYh0lqg1D/s200/small-bee-on-Rudbeckia.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOLqLALUKBa2fqrkrAbJ4i0e87JUX_ftzobMmeahxsQ8qL3CnyUD77WESLQhTOBIIJ4TSKB7jPV9jaNH6L87Ech6IPtGkenAFf8BheTmNbpn_4Bacyt2z8eJj5MIwhqA28bEo7uOlWwta/s320/Portulaca-flowers.jpg)
There's a specialist bee that collects pollen from these portulaca flowers in one of my containers, but I wasn't able to catch it in a photo.