# Eastern Carpenter Bee (*Xylocopa virginica*) The Eastern Carpenter Bee is a big, fuzzy bee that loves to make holes in wood. They are important for helping flowers grow by spreading pollen as they visit them. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 104 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Carpenter Bumblebee ![Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carpenter_bee.jpg&width=800) Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carpenter_bee.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Carpenter Bee is a large, robust bee with a shiny, hairless black abdomen and a fuzzy yellow and black thorax. It has dark, iridescent wings and may have yellow markings on its head, especially in males, which helps distinguish it from the hairier abdomen of a bumblebee. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Xylocopa ## Interesting facts - Baby carpenter bees eat a special mixture of pollen and nectar! - Male carpenter bees have a distinct yellow patch on their face! - They often return to the same wooden tunnels year after year! - You can hear a unique buzzing sound when they tunnel into wood! ## Special abilities - **Buzz Pollinator:** Eastern Carpenter Bee can vibrate flowers at high frequencies that helps release pollen for plant fertilization. - **Territorial Guard:** Eastern Carpenter Bee males can hover aggressively to deter threats that helps them protect their nesting territories. - **Stinger Defense:** Eastern Carpenter Bee females can deliver a painful sting because of their barbed stinger that helps them defend their nest. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-50 mm - **Size:** 16-24 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-120 days - **Flight Speed:** 18 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding They drink sweet nectar for energy and collect pollen to feed their babies. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Flower sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Maypop (*Passiflora incarnata*) — They visit flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Downy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker) (*Dendrocopos pubescens*) — Woodpeckers dig into wood to find their larvae. - **Parasitizes:** Carpenter Bee Mite (*Chaetodactylus krombeini*) — These mites hitchhike on bees to new nests. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a bee, it's best to stay calm and not swat at it. They usually won't bother you. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Carpenter Bee? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Eastern Carpenter Bee's wingspan? 30-50 mm ### How big is Eastern Carpenter Bee? 16-24 mm ### How long does Eastern Carpenter Bee live? 60-120 days ### How fast can Eastern Carpenter Bee fly? 18 km/h ### What does Eastern Carpenter Bee eat? They drink sweet nectar for energy and collect pollen to feed their babies. ### Where is Eastern Carpenter Bee usually found? Urban areas ### How does Eastern Carpenter Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albemarle-and-chesapeake-canal) — Virginia, US · Historic Site - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Bean Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bean-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District [View all places to see Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-carpenter-bee) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Queen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/queen) (*Danaus gilippus*) --- Source: [Eastern Carpenter Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee)