Large Carpenter Bees

Xylocopa

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Xylocopinae
Genus: Xylocopa

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Xylocopa: //zaɪˈlɒkəpə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Xylocopa abbottii by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Xylocopa (Stenoxylocopa) micheneri micheneri by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Xylocopa lunulata minensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Xylocopa libocedri by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Xylocopa collaris binghami by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Xylocopa, commonly known as carpenter bees, comprises around 500 species worldwide. They are primarily solitary, nesting in wood, and are important pollinators for a variety of plants. Their nesting behaviors can cause damage to structures but they play a significant role in ecosystems as pollinators.

Physical Characteristics

12‒26 mm in length; abdomen largely naked, unlike in bumble bees; males often covered in greenish-yellow fur; shiny abdomen distinct from bumblebees which have hairy abdomens.

Identification Tips

Distinguished from bumblebees by a shiny abdomen; their marginal cell is very long and thin, and the 2nd submarginal cell tapers toward the body. Males have larger eyes than females, and some have white or yellow faces.

Habitat

Found on flowers and about nest sites in woody plants; nests are typically in hard plant material such as dead wood or bamboo, with some exceptions digging into suitable soil.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution with 9 species in North America; notable species include X. virginica in the eastern US, X. micans in the southeastern US, and several species in the western US including X. californica, X. varipunctata, and X. tabaniformis.

Diet

Adults collect pollen and nectar from a wide range of floral sources, and some species exhibit nectar robbing behavior.

Life Cycle

Reproductive cycle includes female digging nests, laying eggs, and creating a pollen/nectar mass for the larvae. The nesting process involves the female constructing tunnels and partitions for brood.

Reproduction

Females construct nests in wood or bamboo, lay eggs in cells filled with pollen and nectar. Some species demonstrate simple social behavior where females cohabit and may share foraging.

Predators

Woodpeckers, various bird species (such as shrikes and bee-eaters), mammals like ratels, large mantises, and predatory flies.

Ecosystem Role

Important pollinators for various plants, some of which have become obligate pollinators for certain plant species; can cause structural damage through nesting behavior.

Economic Impact

Potential pests in timber due to nesting habits, causing damage to wooden structures if infestations are ignored.

Cultural Significance

Commonly associated with certain cultural names like 'bhanvra' in India for all-black species; species are misidentified or attributed incorrectly in folklore.

Health Concerns

Females can sting, but are generally docile; males do not have stingers.

Evolution

The genus Xylocopa is a large and diverse group of bees with many species showing morphological similarities and ecological adaptations.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Often confused with bumblebees; commonly misidentified based on appearance and nesting behavior.