Carpenter bees can cause unsightly damage around the exterior of your New Jersey home or business. These pests bore holes in wood to create a safe place for their young. A carpenter bee infestation can leave you with holes scattered throughout the wood of your home or business. To keep carpenter bees out of your home or business, you need to know how they behave, take steps to keep them out, and find effective ways to treat an infestation if it does happen.
New Jersey is home to an impressive diversity of bee species. While most bees in the state are relatively small, like honey bees and bumblebees, there are a few varieties of larger bees that make their home here as well. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most notable large bee species that can be found buzzing around the Garden State.
Carpenter Bees
One of the most commonly seen large bees in New Jersey are carpenter bees. There are two main types found in the state – large carpenter bees and small carpenter bees.
The large carpenter bee can reach up to an inch in length. They have a shiny black abdomen with some yellow markings on the thorax As their name suggests, these bees drill holes in wood to make their nests, particularly in fence posts, dead trees, and wooden structures Large carpenter bees can be minor nuisances, but they are important native pollinators.
Small carpenter bees are metallic blue-black in color and a bit narrower than their larger relatives They nest in hollow plant stems and are even more docile than large carpenter bees Neither variety is particularly aggressive unless their nest is disturbed.
Cicada Killer Wasps
While they may look intimidating, cicada killer wasps are another of the largest bees/wasps found in New Jersey. Females can reach 1.5 inches in length, with a black body marked by yellow bands. As their name implies, these insects prey on cicadas.
The female cicada killer paralyzes cicadas with her sting then carries them back to her burrow nest where she lays an egg on the cicada. When the egg hatches, the wasp larva feeds on the cicada. Male cicada killers are smaller and unable to sting. Though large, cicada killers are not aggressive toward humans unless provoked.
Bumblebees
Bumblebees are robust, furry bees that are among the largest in New Jersey. There are over 40 species found in the state. They have rounded bodies covered in black and yellow hairs, often arranged in stripes. Bumblebee species range in size from .5 inches to 1.6 inches in length.
These fuzzy insects nest in cavities in the ground, abandoned rodent burrows, and other holes. Bumblebees do not make honey but are important native pollinators. They will only sting if their nest is disturbed; otherwise, bumblebees are quite docile.
Mining Bees
Mining bees earn their name from the way they excavate nest tunnels in soil, clay, and even mortar. They are plump, larger-bodied bees ranging from .5 to .75 inches in length. Their thorax is covered in yellow hairs, while the rest of the body is primarily black.
Mining bees are often confused for bumblebees but can be distinguished by their nesting behavior. Their underground nests have long, chimney-like tubes jutting out from the soil. Though they resemble bumblebees, mining bees are actually quite docile.
So if you spot any plump, buzzing bees up to 1.5 inches long in your New Jersey garden or yard, chances are it is one of these fascinating large bee species and not a cause for alarm. As native pollinators, these bees play a vital role in plant reproduction – just let them go about their business peacefully!
What are Carpenter Bees?
Carpenter bees are a large species of bees that can be found throughout New Jersey. New Jersey pest control experts say that these bees can seem scary because they are big and the males act aggressively, which can make them look scary. It’s not true that male carpenter bees have stingers, even though they act aggressively because they have to protect the female while she builds the nest and lays eggs. Female carpenter bees do have stingers and will sting if they are threatened. Carpenter bee females are the ones who damage your property by boring holes in wood to make nests.
When are Carpenter Bees Active in New Jersey?
Carpenter bee activity picks up as the weather in New Jersey starts to warm. Mid to late spring is when the female and male carpenter bees come out of their winter nesting tunnels, so you can expect to see more of them.
Massive large bees take over the city of New Jersey
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