Carpenter Bees

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees are pests around wood -- boring perfectly round holes for their nests.

Geographic Region

Carpenter bees can be found across the southern United States from California to Florida; and in the eastern United States, north to New York.

Natural Habitat

Carpenter bees inhabit a broad range of ecosystems from tropical to subtropical to temperate. They forage for food in vegetable and flower gardens and excavate wood for their nests.

Weather Conditions

Carpenter bees mate and lay eggs in spring, but remain active until early fall.  

Behavior

Carpenter bees are solitary bees. They make nests for their young by tunneling into wood, vibrating their bodies by chewing the wood with their mandibles. They prefer wood that is unpainted and weathered.

Unique Characteristics

Carpenter bees are sometimes confused with bumblebees. The easiest way to tell the two apart is that most carpenter bees have a shiny abdomen, whereas bumblebee abdomens are covered with thick hair. Here's a list of other differences between carpenter bees and bumblebees.