The carpenter bee is a solitary stinging insect that looks a lot like a bumblebee, which is why people often mix them up. The carpenter bee is a large species of bee. They range in size from ½ an inch to 1 ½ inch in length. Carpenter bees have a shiny black abdomen. The bumble bee’s abdomen is completely covered in dense hair. Carpenter bees are black in color, but males may have a white or yellow face. Females have stingers, but are docile and rarely sting. Males are very aggressive, but can’t sting. They basically have a very loud “bark” but no “bite” to back it up!.
North Carolina is home to a diverse array of bee species, including some very large bees that are easy to spot buzzing around gardens and fields. Two of the most commonly encountered large bee species in NC are carpenter bees and bumblebees
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp,) are probably the most noticeable large bees in North Carolina, These chunky bees have shiny black bodies that can grow over 1 inch long They get their name from their behavior of drilling holes and tunnels into wood to make their nests
There are two main types of carpenter bees found in the state
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Large carpenter bees (Xylocopa virginica) – These are the bigger of the two carpenter bee species, around 1 inch long. The males have a distinctive yellow/white spot on their face.
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Small carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.) – The small carpenter bees are all metallic blue-black or green in color and around 1/2 inch long. They prefer to nest in hollow plant stems.
Some key facts about carpenter bees:
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Mostly solitary bees that nest alone. Females chew into wood to make tunnel nests.
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Males are very territorial – they will hover in front of nests and even dive bomb intruders! But they don’t have stingers.
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Females can sting but usually only do so if provoked. The sting is mild compared to other bees.
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Important native pollinators of flowers and crops.
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Often confused with bumblebees, but carpenter bees have hairless abdomens that are smooth and shiny.
Carpenter bees are most active in spring and summer. Watch for them visiting blossoms in gardens, parks, and fields.
Bumblebees
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are the other very large bee commonly seen in North Carolina. These fuzzy, round-bodied bees have black bodies with yellow or orange banding.
There are over 40 different bumblebee species native to North Carolina. Some common ones include:
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Brown-belted bumblebee (Bombus griseocollis) – brown thorax with yellow-black-yellow bands on abdomen
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Common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) – black head, yellow thorax, black abdomen with yellow band
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Yellow bumblebee (Bombus fervidus) – entirely yellow-haired
Some key facts about bumblebees:
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Colonial species with one queen. Colonies can have dozens to hundreds of workers.
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Make nests in cavities like abandoned rodent holes, under sheds, etc.
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Important crop pollinators – used commercially to pollinate greenhouse tomatoes.
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Females can sting multiple times. Sting is mild unless someone is allergic.
Bumblebees forage on a wide variety of flowering plants. Watch for them in gardens, meadows, and parks from spring through fall when flowers are blooming. Their large size and loud buzz make them easy to notice!
Identifying Carpenter Bees vs. Bumblebees
Although they are both big, fuzzy bees, carpenter bees and bumblebees have some distinct differences:
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Carpenter bees have a hairless, shiny abdomen while bumblebees are entirely fuzzy.
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Bumblebees are more round-bodied compared to the elongated carpenter bees.
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Male carpenter bees have a yellow spot on their face unlike any bumblebees.
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Bumblebees have a very loud, buzzy flight while carpenter bees have a quieter, sneakier flight.
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Bumblebees live in large colonies while carpenter bees are solitary nesters.
Learning some basic ID tips helps distinguish these two common large bee species found busy at work in North Carolina! Appreciating their differences highlights the remarkable diversity of native bees that call the Tar Heel State home.
Why Do I Have A Carpenter Bee Problem?
Carpenter bees have chosen to live on your property because it has everything they need to live comfortably. Like any living creature, these bees need food, water, and shelter. They feed on pollen and nectar, so properties with a lot of flowering vegetation are attractive to them. They get water from leaky fixtures, birdbaths, clogged gutters, and ornamental ponds. Trees, wooden structures, and the outside of homes provide shelter.
Are Carpenter Bees Dangerous?
You shouldn’t let carpenter bees live on your property for long because they are harmful and dangerous. Even though females aren’t very mean, if they do sting, their venom is strong enough to make some people allergic.
Carpenter bees are capable of causing significant property damage. Females create their nests by boring holes into pieces of wood. Carpenter bees build their nests alone, but they often return to the same spot or piece of wood every year.
An interesting fact is that most of the damage from a carpenter bee infestation often comes from woodpeckers. Woodpeckers love to feed on carpenter bee larvae. They scratch around the edge of the nest to get to their favorite treat, which makes a lot of damage that looks bad.
Native Bees of North Carolina: The Carpenter Bee
FAQ
What are these huge bees?
What are the jumbo bees called?
Can carpenter bees sting or bite you?
Are large carpenter bees aggressive?
How many long horned bees are there in North Carolina?
There are up to 30 species of Long-Horned Bees in North Carolina! This bee group nests in holes dug by females, typically under shrubbery. The nests are branched, with tiny “rooms” at the end of each branch where a single bee will overwinter. Long-horned bees are solitary for much of their life.
What is a small carpenter bee in North Carolina?
Small Carpenter Bees are unlike any other type of bee in North Carolina! Small Carpenter Bees are black with a green or blue cast and prefer to nest in hollowed-out stems of plants like raspberry or sumac bushes. These species are even more unusual than their larger relatives!
Where can I buy a book about bees in North Carolina?
After peer review and some design tweaks from the NC Cooperative Extension system, we’re happy to announce that the book is now available for purchase from UNC press, or for download as a free pdf. Get to know your bees! Levenson, H. K., and E. Youngsteadt. 2020. The Bees of North Carolina: An Identification Guide (AG-858).
Are there worker mason bees in North Carolina?
There are no worker Mason Bees. Interestingly, Mason Bees are considered the most docile bee in North Carolina! Farmers and other professionals regularly handle Mason Bees without being stung. They’re often kept on large farms to help with the growing process because they’re highly efficient pollinators.
What does a bumblebee look like in North Carolina?
Fuzzy hair is colored with black and yellow stripes. Large and round-bodied with a pointed head. Bumblebees are the most recognizable bees in North Carolina! Although they don’t produce honey, they’re essential pollinators for fruit and vegetable crops. They feed on the nectar of flowering plants and collect pollen to feed their young.
What do cuckoo bees look like in North Carolina?
Their bodies are elongated, coming to a sharp point at the stinger. Cuckoo Bees are the most wasp-like of all bee groups in North Carolina! Their coloring varies so widely that it’s hard to tell what type of insect you’re looking at without careful observation. Some are black and white striped, while others are mainly black with red bands.