Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa spp.
Do not provoke them and you will not have a problem. The male carpenter bee does not have a stinger while the female does, but will not attack unless provoked. Carpenter bee nests are easy to spot because they nest in wood, and each nest has only a single entrance. They are known to build nests in structures or weathered wood.
RISK LEVEL:
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
Risk is defined as how much damage each pest can be to you, your family, or your home
- Look for their nests in wood, or in cracks and openings to your home.
- Be aware of their hovering, aggressive behavior towards you, or congregation around sticky or sweet spills.
- Look for holes in wood, as carpenter bees bore holes in wood to lay eggs.
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| Class: | Order: | Family: | |
| Insecta | Hymenoptera | Anthophoridae | |
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| Size: | Carpenter bee adults are about 1/2 to 1in (12.5-25 mm) long, robust. |
| Color: | California carpenter bee (mountains in CA/OR) is mostly metallic green/blue with grayish wings. Female valley carpenter bee (valleys, lower foothills of CA/AZ) is shiny black with bright metallic purple/bronze shine, smoky colored wings; male is golden brown or buff. Mountain carpenter bee (foothills/mountains of CA/AZ/NV/OR) is black; male's head has yellow, white, black hairs. |
| Characteristics: | They are similar to bumble bees, except top of abdomen is quite bare and shiny. |
| Geographic Range: | Carpenter bees are found around the world, with 7 species in the United States. |
| Food: | Pollen, nectar |
| Biology: | After mating, the female carpenter bee bores a hole straight into wood, then turns and follows the grain of the wood, in order to make a gallery in which to lay eggs. She may use an old gallery from a previous year, or extend an old gallery. Beginning at the closed end, she lays an egg onto a mass of pollen and partly digested nectar, then seals it with chewed wood-pulp. She continues to do this once a day for 5-6 days. Mating is in the spring after individuals have overwintered in old tunnels. The survivors feed on nectar. Development from egg to adult takes 1-3 months. |
Prevention Tips For
Stinging Insects
Stinging Insects
- Seal any cracks or openings to the home (to prevent colonization/nesting)
- Clean up any syrupy or sweet spills immediately around house
- Keep lids tight on trash cans
- For carpenter bees, keep home exterior well painted and or sealed
- Inspect the exterior of home for bee activity
- Remove old nests
It only takes a few minutes to start protecting your home today.
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