# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** They live in gardens, woodlands, and areas with plenty of flowers. ![Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Xylocopa_tabaniformis_orpifex-Male-1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xylocopa_tabaniformis_orpifex-Male-1.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Xylocopa ## 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 - **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. - **Super Pollinator:** Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee has fuzzy bodies that helps them efficiently carry pollen between flowers, playing a vital role in plant reproduction. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/purple-passionflower) (*Passiflora incarnata*) — Helps in the reproduction of this distinct vining plant. - **Eaten by:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — Woodpeckers can sometimes extract larvae from their wooden nests. ## Traits - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [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 No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Horse-Fly 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 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 ## Where to spot - [Alder Creek Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alder-creek-grove) — California, US · Forest - [California State Capitol](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/california-state-capitol) — California, US · Historic District - [California State Capitol Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/california-state-capitol-museum) — California, US · Museum - [Old Sacramento Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-sacramento-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Antoine Greenspace](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/antoine-greenspace) — Texas, US · Park - [Ohlone Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ohlone-park) — California, US · Park [View all places to see Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/horse-fly-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*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Horse-Fly Carpenter Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horse-fly-carpenter-bee)