Carpenter bees

Definition

Large to very large bees in the genus Xylocopa (subfamily Xylocopinae, family Apidae) that excavate nesting galleries in dead wood, bamboo, or other hard plant material rather than using pre-existing cavities. Females possess strong mandibles for tunneling and typically provision cells with pollen and nectar before laying eggs. Most species are solitary or weakly social, though some exhibit simple cooperative nesting. Distinguished from superficially similar bumble bees (Bombus) by a shiny, largely hairless dorsal abdomen and by their distinctive nesting biology.

Etymology

From the bees' wood-excavating behavior, analogous to carpentry; the genus name Xylocopa derives from Greek xylon (wood) and koptein (to cut).

Example

The eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) commonly tunnels into untreated lumber, fence posts, and dead tree limbs throughout eastern North America, sometimes causing minor structural damage but also serving as important pollinators of open-faced flowers.

Synonyms

• wood bees
• Xylocopa

Related Terms

• Xylocopinae
• Ceratina
• little carpenter bees
• solitary bees
• nest excavation
• Mandible
• pollination
• Apidae

Usage Notes

The common name properly applies only to Xylocopa; the related genus Ceratina (subfamily Xylocopinae) is correctly called 'little carpenter bees' or 'small carpenter bees' and nests in pithy stems rather than solid wood. Carpenter bees are often mistaken for bumble bees, but can be distinguished in flight by their faster, more erratic flight pattern and, on close inspection, by the shiny, black or blue-black dorsal abdomen lacking the dense pile of Bombus.