giant bees in north carolina

Giant Bees in North Carolina: What to Know About These Incredible Pollinators

North Carolina is home to an impressive diversity of bee species, including some of the largest bees found in the United States While the name “giant bee” may conjure up images of horror movie monsters, these bees are actually quite gentle and play a vital role as pollinators in the state’s ecosystems. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most notable giant bee species that call North Carolina home and what makes them special

The Eastern Carpenter Bee

The eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) is one of the more commonly encountered giant bees in North Carolina Growing up to 1 inch in length, carpenter bees can seem intimidating with their large size and loud buzz However, female carpenter bees are actually quite docile and rarely sting unless provoked. These bees get their name from their nest-building habits, excavating tunnels in dead wood, logs, and wooden structures. Their large size aids them in chewing into wood. Carpenter bees are important pollinators of flowers with deep cups or funnel-shaped blooms, relying on their robust bodies to push inside the flowers to access nectar and pollen.

The Valley Carpenter Bee

Closely related to the eastern carpenter bee is the valley carpenter bee (Xylocopa varipuncta), another large bee reaching up to 1 inch in length. As their names suggest, valley carpenter bees prefer more open, rural habitats over forested areas. Their geographic range extends further west than eastern carpenter bees, though the two species overlap in parts of North Carolina. Valley carpenter bees can be identified by the yellow hairs on their abdomen and light yellow markings on their face. Like eastern carpenter bees, they nest in wood and are sluggish, gentle giants.

Bumble Bees

There are over a dozen bumble bee species found in North Carolina, all classified in the genus Bombus. Bumble bees have characteristic furry, robust bodies with black and yellow, orange, or red color banding. They are among the first bees to emerge in early spring and the last remaining active into the fall, making them critical pollinators across the seasons. Bumble bees live in small colonies, building nests in abandoned rodent burrows, grass tussocks, and other cavities. North Carolina is home to some of the largest bumble bees in North America, like the southeastern carpenter bee (Bombus pensylvanicus) which can reach up to 1.6 inches in length.

Leafcutter Bees

Leafcutter bees comprise over 140 species in North America, several of which can be found in North Carolina. As their name implies, these bees cut neat, circular holes in leaves to construct their nests. Leafcutter bees range in size from about 0.3 inches up to 0.8 inches in the giant leafcutter bee (Megachile pluto). With their large mandibles for leaf-cutting and dense hairs all over their body, leafcutter bees are efficient pollinators of native plants. Their nests are built in pre-existing cavities like holes in wood or rock crevices.

Mining Bees

There are around 250 species of mining bees in North America, including some giants that call North Carolina home. One group known as long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.) can reach up to 0.8 inches long. As their name suggests, these bees have very elongated antennae. Mining bees are solitary ground nesters, excavating tunnels in soil, sandy banks, and cliffs. Their hairy bodies are well-suited for carrying pollen from flower to flower as they forage. Though most species are small, North Carolina has its fair share of giant mining bees.