Eastern Carpenter Bee

Xylocopa virginica

Classification

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Xylocopa virginica: /zaɪˈlɑkəpə vɜrˈdʒɪnɪkə/

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

Images

Xylocopa virginica krombeini by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Xylocopa virginica texana by Diana Foreman. Used under a CC0 license.

Eastern carpenter bee (31500) by Rhododendrites. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Xylocopa virginica, commonly known as the Eastern Carpenter Bee, is a large, primarily black bee found in the eastern United States and southern Canada, notable for its unique nesting behavior in wood and role in pollination.

Physical Characteristics

19-23 mm in size; large, black "hairless" abdomen (males may have patches of short hair); yellow pile on thorax; males have yellow/white face; glossy body with a slight metallic purple tint.

Identification Tips

Females have a wider head and are larger than males, who have longer bodies and a distinctive white spot on their face. Males also exhibit larger thoracic volumes relative to their body mass.

Habitat

Forests and adjacent areas with flowers.

Distribution

Eastern United States and into Canada, found throughout much of North America east of the Rocky Mountains, as far north as Nebraska, southern Ontario, and Maine.

Diet

Pollen and nectar; they sometimes engage in nectar robbing by biting into the base of flowers to access nectar without pollinating.

Life Cycle

Adults emerge in late summer, overwinter, mate and nest in spring. Typically one generation per year, with some cases in Florida possibly having two generations.

Reproduction

Mating occurs once a year in spring, with eggs laid in July. Females manage various roles including reproduction and foraging.

Predators

Parasites include bombyliid flies such as Xenox tigrinus.

Ecosystem Role

Pollinators of various flowers, including agricultural crops such as blueberries.

Economic Impact

Beneficial as pollinators, although they can weaken wood in manmade structures due to nesting behavior.

Health Concerns

Females can sting if roughly handled, but males cannot sting.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

While males may exhibit territorial behavior, they do not possess a stinger as they lack the modified ovipositor found in females.