Carpenter bees are a species of twenty thousand that include nine different families, each of which is divided into three large groups with an average length of tongue and proboscis. Long-tongued carpenter bees (apidae), the largest native bee in the United States.
This bee gets its name from its nesting habits, where it burrows and burrows into hard materials such as wood or even bamboo. Continue reading this article from teketrek to learn more about the carpenter bee.
External Characteristics of the Carpenter Bee
- The carpenter bee belongs to the kingdom Animalia, class Insecta, Carpenter bee family is Apidae, phylum Arthropoda, subphylum Hexapoda, and order Hymenoptera, and it resembles the bumblebee. Carpenter bee’s scientific name is Xylocopa virginica.
- Carpenter bees have large, rounded bodies that are black with yellow hair.
- The dorsal surface of the carpenter bee appears black with sometimes a purple pigment, is shiny, and is not covered with hair.
- Carpenter bees have six legs, some male carpenter bees have a white spot on their faces, but the females have entirely black faces.
- Female carpenter bees can sting, while males cannot.
Types of Carpenter Bees
There are many types of carpenter bees around the world, and they differ in appearance, habitat, and general behavior, as follows:
- Purple Carpenter Bee:
It is a black bee with dark wings that shine purple or blue in bright light. Its original habitat is Asia, active from February to June, where it raises one and sometimes two broods each year.
The purple carpenter bee nests since April in dead wood or grass stems or bamboo canes. It also nests in wooden houses and is sometimes considered a pest.
- Eastern Carpenter Bee:
The eastern carpenter bee can be found in most parts of the United States and Canada.
The eastern carpenter bee prefers structural woods for nesting, including pine and cedar.
The eastern carpenter bee is the most common type of carpenter bee, and what distinguishes it is its ability to cut the sides of flower petals to reach the nectar without pollinating it, which gives them the title “nectar thief.”
- California Carpenter Bees:
Its original habitat is western North America and is the largest bee found in California. This bee makes its nest by creating long passages with two ends at the edges of oak trees.
It is also worth mentioning that carpenter bee species are found on all continents except Antarctica, but there are some morphological and color differences between the different species.
Diet of the Carpenter Bee
The carpenter bee is a vegetarian insect that feeds on flower nectar.
Carpenter bees visit a wide range of pollen and nectar sources, including fruit trees, hibiscus, berries, and even wild daffodils.
There is a common misconception that carpenter bees eat wood, but this material is only chewed to create their nests.
Life Cycle of the Carpenter Bee
- The carpenter bee has four life stages (egg, larva, pupa, and adult). It takes seven weeks for this bee to reach adulthood, and the newly grown adults stay in the nest for several weeks.
- The average lifespan of a carpenter bee is about one year.
- The female carpenter bee digs a tunnel in a piece of wood, makes a ball of bee bread consisting of nectar and pollen, and lays her eggs on it. Then she closes the tunnel with wood chips and leaves only a small room where her eggs are. Then this egg is left with no more than bee bread, and the bee must dig its way out of the cell.
- Carpenter bees, like other bee species, also have elaborate courtship displays by flying bees. This means that the bee will engage in complex displays to attract its mate with special dances.
Pollination in Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees are wonderful pollinators and have a unique way of collecting pollen from flowering plants.
Buzz pollination is a technique used by carpenter bees, as well as bumblebees, stinging bees, and many other species to release pollen from certain types of plants.
Some Information About the Lifestyle of Carpenter Bees
- More than 90% of bee species live in isolation, and the carpenter bee is a common solitary insect.
- Although it is sometimes known that carpenter bees nest in small groups, while honey bees rely on a colony to survive.
- Carpenter bees can live alone, as well as search for food, build nests, reproduce, and even defend themselves.
- When building its nest, the bee chews perfectly round holes in the wood with its lower jaw, producing tunnels called galleries. They use them to store food and protect eggs and larvae.
The most frequently asked questions about carpenter bees
- What do carpenter bees do?
An important pollinator of some flowering plants.
- Why do carpenter bees drill holes?
To lay their eggs and protect their larvae.
- Do carpenter bees sting?
Female carpenter bees can sting and do so if they feel threatened, but male carpenter bees do not have a stinger. When stinging, the female carpenter bee releases bee venom and does not lose her stinger.
- How Do You Treat a Carpenter bee sting?
You can treat Carpenter bee sting similarly to other bee stings: apply a cold compress or ice pack to reduce any inflammation, and if the spot is still painful, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can help.
- Do Carpenter Bees Make Honey?
Although carpenter bees pollinate flowering plants and feed on nectar, they do not produce honey.
- Are carpenter bees safe or poisonous?
As for males, they have white marks on their heads, and they fly aggressively, but they are harmless due to the absence of a stinging stinger. Females are black-headed, gentle, rarely sting
- What do carpenter bees feed on?
They feed on flower nectar. Carpenter bees visit pollen and nectar sources including fruit trees, hibiscus, berries and even daffodils.
- What are the benefits of carpenter bees?
Carpenter bees are excellent pollinators for many flowering plants in our gardens, on farms, and in natural areas.
In conclusion, we have reached the end of the article after talking about the importance of carpenter bees, their characteristics, and the most important facts about them.
We hope we have provided you with valuable information about carpenter bees.
