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Carpenter Bee

Carpenter Bee & Leatherwing Beetle

Carpenter Bee on Goldenrod

Carpenter Bee Side View

Xylocopa virginica

The bee above was hanging out on some Goldenrod in the Raulston Arboretum. Looks like she made friend with a Leatherwing Beetle. The last one is totally nom nomming all sloppy like in some pollenicious goldenrod.

There are over 500 species of Carpenter Bee worldwide. The one above is most likely an Eastern Carpenter Bee. They are generally broken down into two main category – small and large carpenter bees. The one above is considered part of the large carpenter bee group. Carpenter bees can sometimes be mistaken for bumble bees because of similar size/coloration. One good way to tell the difference is that carpenter bees have shiny abdomens, where bumble bees are hairy on their abdomen/booty. Carpenter bees are generally solitary, but many of the females will nest near their daughters/sisters and may share some duties. Even though they are generally solitary, they can be social and interact beyond mating time – but they usually nest alone (rather than in a communal hive).

Namesake 
The bees are named carpenter bees because they nest in wood, creating a perfect little circle for their opening. The bees make their nest by burrowing into the wood and vibrating their bodies and mandibles against the wood. They don’t actually eat the wood – it is thrown out or recycled and used to build partitions in the nest. They very carefully build nests to house their eggs/young ones. Strangely enough – the Carpenter Bee eggs are proportionately considered very large – some of the largest in the insect world. Oh poor baby mama!

Food
Carpenter Bees are incredibly important pollinators for flowers. However, they have also been known to “rob” flowers of their nectar. This generally occurs with tubular type flowers that can be difficult for the bee to access. The bee will make a cut in the tub part of the flower and steal the nectar – causing some damage to the flower and not pollinating it in the end. I kind of like when I see examples of cheating in nature though… Innovation and cuttin’ corners! 

The Ouch Factor
Males are often seen hovering around nests (looking for mates, of course) and have been known to go after some animals – however, males have no stingers. Female carpenter bees do have stingers (which are modified ovipositors), but are not aggressive and generally won’t sting you unless you harass the poor ladies. When the sassy ladies do decide to sting you though, it is a fairly painful sting.