# Strand's Carpenter Bee (*Xylocopa strandi*) Strand's Carpenter Bee is a big, fuzzy bee that loves to make its home in wood. These bees are important for helping flowers grow by spreading pollen as they fly from plant to plant. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Strand's Carpenter Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Xylocopa_strandi.jpg&width=800) Photo: Diana Foreman, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xylocopa_strandi.jpg) ## Appearance The Strand's Carpenter Bee is a large, robust bee with a shiny, often iridescent metallic blue-black or greenish-black body. Its abdomen is smooth and mostly hairless, distinguishing it from fuzzy bumblebees. It also has dark, translucent wings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Xylocopa ## Interesting facts - Adult Strand's Carpenter Bees often survive winter by hiding inside their wooden tunnels. - Male Strand's Carpenter Bees often have a distinct yellow patch on their face! - Mom Strand's Carpenter Bee packs pollen meals for each baby inside their wooden tunnel. - They sometimes 'nectar rob' flowers, taking food without pollinating. Sneaky! ## Special abilities - **Woodworking Whiz:** Strand's Carpenter Bee can chew tunnels into wood using its powerful mandibles, creating safe nests for its offspring. - **Vibration Pollinator:** Strand's Carpenter Bee has a unique 'buzz pollination' ability, shaking flowers to release hidden pollen that helps plants reproduce. - **Swift Navigator:** Strand's Carpenter Bee has powerful wing muscles, allowing it to fly quickly and efficiently between flowers, gathering nectar and pollen. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-50 mm - **Size:** 20-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 300-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Strand's Carpenter Bees sip nectar from flowers for energy and collect pollen for their babies. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Floral oils - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Passion Fruit (*Passiflora edulis*) — Helps this fruit plant produce its tasty fruits. - **Eaten by:** [European Bee-eater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-bee-eater) (*Merops apiaster*) — A swift bird that catches them in mid-air for a meal. - **Shelter:** Sweet Thorn (*Vachellia karroo*) — Uses its dead wood for nesting tunnels to raise its young. ## 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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [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. - [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 Don't touch bees, but watch them from a distance. They are usually friendly! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Strand's 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 Strand's Carpenter Bee's wingspan? 35-50 mm ### How big is Strand's Carpenter Bee? 20-25 mm ### How long does Strand's Carpenter Bee live? 300-365 days ### How fast can Strand's Carpenter Bee fly? 20 km/h ### What does Strand's Carpenter Bee eat? Strand's Carpenter Bees sip nectar from flowers for energy and collect pollen for their babies. ### Where is Strand's Carpenter Bee usually found? Forests ### How does Strand's Carpenter Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Antoine Greenspace](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/antoine-greenspace) — Texas, US · Park ## 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: [Strand's Carpenter Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/strands-carpenter-bee)