Carpenter Bee
ExploreInsects
Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
Carpenter Bees are large, shiny bees that drill holes in wood. They are excellent pollinators and love to visit flowers.
Habitat: Wooded areas and gardens
Appearance
The Carpenter Bee is a large, robust bee, often appearing black or metallic blue-black with a shiny, hairless abdomen. This smooth abdomen helps distinguish it from fuzzy bumblebees. Some species might feature yellow hairs on their thorax.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyApidaeGenusXylocopa
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Did you know male Carpenter Bees don't have a stinger at all? Only females can sting!
Some female Carpenter Bees are 'super moms' that share a nest entrance but have their own separate rooms!
These amazing bees often use the same tunnels year after year, sometimes for generations!
They don't eat wood; they just tunnel through it to make cozy homes for their babies!
Special abilities
Ability
Wood Carver
Carpenter Bee can bore perfect tunnels into wood because of powerful mandibles that help them create nests for their young.
Ability
Flower Friend
Carpenter Bee has a fuzzy body that helps them carry pollen, fertilizing many different plants as they feed.
Ability
Pollination Power
Carpenter Bee can perform buzz pollination to shake pollen free, helping specific flowers release their hidden treasures.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 30-50 mm
- Size
- 15-25 mm
- Lifespan
- 300-365 days
- Flight Speed
- 20 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Carpenter bees are busy vegetarians, sipping nectar for energy and collecting pollen for their growing babies.
Primary Foods
- Nectar
- Pollen
- Floral oils
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
pollinates
Peach Tree
Prunus persica
Helps fertilize flowers for delicious fruit.
eaten by
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Woodpeckers drill into tunnels to find larvae.
shelters
Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Excavates nests in dead wood of oak trees.
parasitizes
Thick-headed Fly
Physocephala marginata
Larvae consume carpenter bee larvae in nests.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Wood Bee
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carpenter Bee's wingspan?
30-50 mm
How big is Carpenter Bee?
15-25 mm
How long does Carpenter Bee live?
300-365 days
How fast can Carpenter Bee fly?
20 km/h
What does Carpenter Bee eat?
Carpenter bees are busy vegetarians, sipping nectar for energy and collecting pollen for their growing babies.
Where is Carpenter Bee usually found?
Wooded areas and gardens
How does Carpenter Bee hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Carpenter Bee have?
6
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