The Violet Carpenter Bee, or Xylocopa violacea, is a lovely, big, black, shiny bee whose wings have a pretty blue-violet sheen to them. It is a member of the Apidae bee family (along with honey bees and bumble bees).
With their vibrant blue hue and impressive size, blue winged carpenter bees captivate the attention of any nature lover. These fascinating insects play crucial roles as pollinators in ecosystems across Asia, Australia, and beyond.
Identification and Appearance
The blue winged carpenter bee belongs to the genus Xylocopa and is known for its distinctive coloration
- Thorax: Covered in bright blue or purple hairs
- Abdomen: Shiny black and nearly hairless
- Wings: Dark brown or black
- Eyes: Bold and black
- Size: Around 1 inch long
The blue sheen on their thorax combined with a hairless abdomen helps differentiate them from bumblebees. Some regions have green or purple winged varieties as well.
Distribution and Habitat
Blue carpenter bees live throughout
- Southern Asia
- Southeast Asia
- Parts of Australia
They prefer warmer environments and are especially abundant in tropical locations.
Some specific countries where they reside include India, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and more.
These bees build nests in dead wood, trees, and structures, seeking out:
- Old stumps
- Hollow logs
- Abandoned nests of other insects
- Wooden fence posts
- The eaves and rafters of homes
Life Cycle and Nesting
The life cycle of blue winged carpenter bees consists of four main phases:
1. Mating
In early spring, mature male and female bees emerge from their nests. Females mate with males near nesting sites.
2. Egg Laying
Fertilized females excavate long tunnels in wood to serve as nests. Within the tunnels they build brood cells. In each cell, the female lays one egg along with pollen and nectar to feed the larva.
3. Larval Stage
The egg hatches and the larva eats the food reserves in its cell. It then spins a cocoon and pupates.
4. Adulthood
In several weeks, the adult bee chews its way out of the cocoon and nest. The cycle repeats again.
Diet and Foraging Behavior
Blue carpenter bees visit flowers to gather two things:
Pollen – Essential for provisioning their nests. They use a special vibrating technique to release pollen from plants.
Nectar – Provides carbohydrates they use for energy.
Some favorite food sources include:
- Lavender
- Lilies
- Honeysuckle
- Rhododendrons
- Milkweed
- Catnip
Their diverse diet makes them extremely valuable pollinators.
Interaction With Humans
While they rarely sting, carpenter bees sometimes cause minor nuisance issues:
- Nesting in wooden structures may damage buildings over time.
- Males aggressively defending nests may alarm people by hovering nearby.
- Accidental stings can occur if females are handled roughly.
However, the ecological benefits of their pollination outweigh these minor drawbacks. With proper education and management, we can peacefully coexist with these important insects.
Fun Blue Carpenter Bee Facts
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Only females can sting; males have no stinger.
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Each spring, males emerge before females so they can stake out nesting sites.
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Blue carpenter bees are vital pollinators for passionfruit, eggplant, tomato, and other food crops.
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Their blue sheen comes from microscopic hair structures that reflect light.
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They perform a behavior called “robbing” where they steal nectar from flowers with slits to access the reward.
With stunning metallic wings and significant pollination contributions, blue winged carpenter bees have earned their reputation as one of the most remarkable bee species. Next time you encounter one of these big blue bees, take a moment to admire their beauty and appreciate the ecosystem services they provide. A bit of understanding goes a long way to transforming fear into fascination!
Distribution, Identification And Life Cycle of Life Cycle Of The Violet Carpenter Bee – Xylocopa violacea
This species usually lives near the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, but it is slowly spreading to northern Europe, including Poland, Belgium, and Germany. There have also been reports of a few individuals in Sweden, one female in Finland, and several individuals in Britain, which is likely due to the importation of wood or plant products rather than natural migration1
The violet carpenter bee looks a lot like the splay-footed carpenter bee, which is also found in Europe and is a different species. To tell the difference between females, you would need a microscope, but the antennae make it easy to tell the difference between males. You can tell it’s a male violet carpenter bee if the tips of its antennae have a hint of red.
In the picture below of a male and female violet carpenter bee mating, notice how the tips of his antennae are tinged with red. He is also holding the female’s antennae.
Below is a lovely short video of a violet carpenter bee busily foraging on flowers. Note the distinctive flight and beautiful wings.
When it comes to southern Italy, the breeding season starts in late January or early February and ends in late April2. Males compete very hard to mate with females during this time, and males will sometimes try to stop couples in flight3.
Females search for suitable nest sites until June2.
Even in cooler climates, females may emerge relatively early. In the UK females have been observed to forage on a comparitively warm, late February day in England4.
In Xylocopa violacea, there is only one generation and one flight period each year. Like other Xylocopa species, the females only lay 7–8 eggs on average per nest5.
From the Greek word for “woodworker,” which is how this species builds its nests, comes the name “Xylocopa.”
This bee might be a woodworker in two main ways. First, it digs holes and tunnels (which may include branches) in rotten wood and tree branches to make its nest.
Secondly, it fashions nest cell partitions inside the tunnels, from the chewed wood fragments. These partitions measure about 2mm think in middle, but are about twice as thick around the edge4. The length of each individual larval cell has been found to measure from 14 to 20 mm4.
Bamboo canes5 are also sometimes used for nests in dry places, along with plant stalks from yucca and palm trees.
One person who has written a lot about this species (Vicidomini2) keeps track of a lot of different ways they protect their nests.
The foundress female may make buzzing sounds from inside the nest to scare away other females that are trying to get in. If an intruder female perches by the entrance to the nest, the foundress female will rush forward to attack. This is usually sufficient to send the visitor on its way.
Persistent males may additionally engage in a spiraling attack flight. Larger intruders (such as humans) might witness the female flying around them, but at a distance.
Blue winged carpenter bee
FAQ
Are blue carpenter bees rare?
Does the blue carpenter bee sting?
How rare is the violet carpenter bee?
Where do blue carpenter bees live?
What is the scientific name of blue carpenter bee?
The scientific name of Blue Carpenter Bee is Xylocopa caerulea. Xylocopa the first name represents its genus and caerulea represents its species. They can reach a normal size of 23 millimeters (0.91 in). These can resemble bumble bees but have more distinct body parts. The back end of their body is clear, black and shiny, without any hairs.
What is a carpenter bee?
Carpenter bees are species in the genus Xylocopa of the subfamily Xylocopinae. The genus includes some 500 bees in 31 subgenera. The common name “carpenter bee” derives from their nesting behavior; nearly all species burrow into hard plant material such as dead wood or bamboo.
What does a blue carpenter bee look like?
Blue carpenter bees are relatively large species of bees, just like bumble bees of average size. However, the former has a thinner coat, making them look shinier compared to the latter. Blue bees can be identified by their large size (about 1 inch long) and shiny, metallic blue-black color.
Can blue carpenter bees make a hole in wood?
Blue Carpenter Bees can make a hole up to around 1.5-inch in diameter in wood. Carpenter bees are also known as mining bees or boring wood bees. Blue Carpenter Bees are known for being large and overwhelming bees. It can be difficult for amateurs to spot the differences between bumblebees and carpenter bees, we hope the images lower down help.
Do blue carpenter bees eat wood?
Here are some images of the Blue Carpenter Bee… image source Xylocopa bee makes honey thicker than a honey bees’ honey, they mix this with pollen to form a bee feed, over which they lay their eggs. The Xylocopa caerulea doesn’t feed on wood, however.