Under the moderate magnification of 125x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the morphologic features encountered at the distal tip of a male carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica, abdomen. Note the absence of a stinger, for male carpenter bees have no stinger, and therefore, cannot sting, while females do have a stinger, and though they can sting, they very rarely do sting.
Created: 2006