Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica · Insect, Invertebrate, Cold-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Apidae, order Hymenoptera, class Insecta
Animal Category
Insect/Arthropod
Breed / Variety
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Conservation Status
Least Concern, with a stable population trend; common and widespread throughout its native range.
About This Creature
Large, robust bees measuring about 0.75 to 1 inch in length, resembling bumblebees but with a distinctive shiny, hairless black abdomen.
Physical Characteristics
Stout body covered in dense yellow pubescence on the thorax, smooth and glossy metallic black or dark blue abdomen, powerful mandibles for wood-boring, and clear membranous wings.
Behavior & Temperament
Solitary or semi-social nesters, active during warm daylight hours, known for hovering near intruders; females can sting if handled, while males are aggressive but harmless due to lacking a stinger.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Eastern North America, ranging from Florida to Canada and west to Texas
Habitat
Forest, woodland edges, and suburban areas; terrestrial and aerial with nesting in dead wood
Diet & Nutrition
Nectarivore and pollenivore; feeds on nectar and gathers pollen from a wide variety of flowering plants.
Lifespan & Health
Adults live for about one year, overwintering in tunnels; preyed upon by birds and mammals such as woodpeckers.
Special Characteristics
Renowned for their ability to bore perfectly round tunnels into untreated wood to create nests, serving as efficient pollinators for many native plants and crops.
Ecological Information
Important pollinators in forest and garden ecosystems, though wood-boring habits can sometimes lead to minor structural damage to wooden buildings.