# Valley Carpenter Bee (*Xylocopa sonorina*) The Valley Carpenter Bee is a big, fuzzy bee that loves to buzz around flowers. They are great at helping plants grow by spreading pollen as they visit flowers. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Valley Carpenter Bee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carpenter_Bee_and_ants_in_Kona.jpg&width=800) Photo: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carpenter_Bee_and_ants_in_Kona.jpg) ## Appearance The Valley Carpenter Bee is a large, robust bee with a striking appearance. Females are entirely glossy black, while males are covered in golden-orange fuzz and possess distinctive green eyes. This sexual dimorphism makes them visually unique among bees. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Apidae - **Genus:** Xylocopa ## Interesting facts - Male Valley Carpenter Bees are often called 'blonde bees' and cannot sting! - These bees are very important 'generalist' pollinators, visiting a huge variety of different plants! - They have a super long tongue called a proboscis to sip nectar from deep inside flowers! - They prefer to nest in untreated wood like old fence posts or tree stumps, not your house! ## Special abilities - **Wood Architect:** Valley Carpenter Bee can bore perfect tunnels into dead wood because of its powerful mandibles, creating safe nests. - **Buzz Pollinator:** Valley Carpenter Bee has the ability to vibrate its flight muscles rapidly to shake pollen from certain flowers, helping them reproduce. - **Pollination Powerhouse:** Valley Carpenter Bee has a large, hairy body that efficiently collects and transfers pollen, helping many plants create seeds. - **Gender Chameleon:** Valley Carpenter Bee males are fuzzy and golden with green eyes, while females are shiny black, helping them recognize mates. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-40 mm - **Size:** 20-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 250-400 days - **Flight Speed:** 18 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 1 ## Diet & Feeding These bees drink flower nectar for energy and collect pollen for their young to grow big and strong! - **Primary Foods:** nectar, pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Western Redbud](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-redbud) (*Cercis occidentalis*) — Helps this tree produce seeds by transferring pollen. - **Pollinates:** [White Sage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-sage) (*Salvia apiana*) — An important pollinator for this aromatic shrub. - **Pollinates:** Arroyo Lupine (*Lupinus succulentus*) — Visits these vibrant flowers, aiding their reproduction. - **Eaten by:** [Western Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-kingbird) (*Tyrannus vociferans*) — Adult bees can be prey for these insectivorous birds. ## 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. - [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 Stay calm if you see a bee; they usually just want to collect pollen and won't bother you. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Valley 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 Valley Carpenter Bee's wingspan? 30-40 mm ### How big is Valley Carpenter Bee? 20-25 mm ### How long does Valley Carpenter Bee live? 250-400 days ### How fast can Valley Carpenter Bee fly? 18 km/h ### What does Valley Carpenter Bee eat? These bees drink flower nectar for energy and collect pollen for their young to grow big and strong! ### Where is Valley Carpenter Bee usually found? Urban areas ### How does Valley Carpenter Bee hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [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 - [Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-museum-and-chihuahuan-desert-gardens) — US · Botanical Garden - [Cottonwood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cottonwood-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Crossroads of the World](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crossroads-of-the-world) — California, US · Historic District - [Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/folsom-city-zoo-sanctuary) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Valley Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/valley-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: [Valley Carpenter Bee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/valley-carpenter-bee)