Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee
ExploreInsects
Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee
xylocopa tabaniformis
The Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee is a large, buzzing insect that loves to visit flowers. With its shiny body and powerful wings, it can fly really fast and is important for pollinating plants!
Habitat: They live in gardens, woodlands, and areas with plenty of flowers.
Appearance
The Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee is a large, robust bee often mistaken for a horsefly due to its dark, somewhat hairy body and relatively broad head. It typically has a black or dark metallic blue-green body with smoky wings, lacking the bright yellow stripes common in many other bees.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyApidaeGenusXylocopa
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Adult Horse-Fly Carpenter Bees can live for over a year, surviving through winter by hibernating!
Male Horse-Fly Carpenter Bees cannot sting, so you can watch them buzz safely from afar!
These amazing bees get their name 'carpenter' because they build impressive, custom nests inside wood!
They don't eat the wood they tunnel into; it's just a cozy, custom-built home for their babies!
Special abilities
Ability
Wood Architect
Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee can tunnel into wood because of its powerful mandibles that helps them create safe, custom nests for their young.
Ability
Super Pollinator
Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee has fuzzy bodies that helps them efficiently carry pollen between flowers, playing a vital role in plant reproduction.
Ability
Buzz Vibration
Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee can 'buzz' certain flowers using sonication, that helps them release stubborn pollen for collection.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 30-50 mm
- Size
- 15-25 mm
- Lifespan
- 30-365 days
- Flight Speed
- 20 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
These bees drink nectar from flowers for energy and collect pollen to feed their growing babies.
Age differences: Larvae feed on stored pollen and nectar, while adults consume nectar and pollen directly from flowers.
Primary Foods
- Nectar
- Pollen
- Cercis canadensis nectar
- Passiflora incarnata nectar
- Wisteria sinensis nectar
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
pollinates
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
An important pollinator for this native flowering tree.
pollinates
Purple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
Helps in the reproduction of this distinct vining plant.
eaten by
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Woodpeckers can sometimes extract larvae from their wooden nests.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee's wingspan?
30-50 mm
How big is Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee?
15-25 mm
How long does Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee live?
30-365 days
How fast can Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee fly?
20 km/h
What does Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee eat?
These bees drink nectar from flowers for energy and collect pollen to feed their growing babies.
Where is Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee usually found?
They live in gardens, woodlands, and areas with plenty of flowers.
How does Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee have?
6
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
.jpg&width=800)
