Carpenter Bee

The common name “carpenter bee” comes from their nesting behavior; nearly all species burrow into hard plant material such as dead wood or bamboo. These bees are found throughout the world with 7 of these species found in the United States.

Homeowners often misidentify these large, dark colored insects as bumble bees because of they are similar in size and appearance. Carpenter bees nest in excavated wooden tunnels. Bumble bees nest in the ground. Carpenter bees are larger, heavy bodied bees that range three-quarters inch to one inch in length. The carpenter bee can be identified by having bright yellow, orange or white hairs on the torso and a black shiny abdomen. The male carpenter bee can be identified by having white markings on the head. While carpenter bees are not generally aggressive, the female does have the ability to sting and will do so if provoked.

Adult female and male carpenter bees overwinter in abandoned nest tunnels in which they have stored small amounts of pollen.  The adults emerge in the early spring, mate, and search for nest sites.  Females may lay her eggs within a series of six to eight cells. The females supplies each cell with a mixture of pollen and nectar, lay an egg on the food mass, and seals off each cell with chewed wood pulp.  The egg hatches and the larva develops to the adult which chews through the cell and surfaces in late summer.

The developmental time from egg to adult is around 36 days. The lifespan of the carpenter bee is normally one year, with females living slightly longer.