Color: Blue-black, green or purple metallic sheen on abdomen
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval; bee shape
Size: 1
Antennae: True
Carpenter bees are large and shiny, with smooth hairless bodies. They are sometimes confused with bumblebees, but often lack yellow stripes. They are solitary bees and don’t live in complex nests or hives.
Unlike bumblebees, carpenter bees are solitary insects. Female carpenter bees will chew a tunnel into a piece of wood to build a nest gallery. The discarded bits of wood she chews and deposits outside the nest are called frass. The male carpenter bee guards the outside of the nest. Only female carpenter bees have stingers, although the constant buzzing of the male bees can cause concern.
Carpenter bees don’t pose a public health threat, but their nest building can cause damage to wood. Female carpenter bees can sting, but rarely do so, unless they are handled or their nest is threatened.
Carpenter bees bore through soft woods to lay eggs and protect their larvae as they develop.
Carpenter bees prefer bare wood, so painting and staining wood can sometimes deter them. However, this is not a guaranteed deterrent. The best course of action is to contact a pest control professional like RK Environmental for assistance.
While natural scents like citrus or peppermint offer temporary deterrence, they do not address the structural risks posed by wood-boring activity. For industrial facilities, RK Environmental utilizes professional-grade repellents and structural sealing to prevent bees from tunneling into wooden eaves or support beams. Our targeted approach ensures long-term exclusion and protects your facility’s exterior integrity without the inconsistency of DIY methods.
Carpenter bees have powerful mandibles, which they use to drill holes by chewing and vibrating their bodies. They’re also fast workers – a single bee can drill a hole a few inches deep in just a few hours.
If you see a carpenter bee persistently hovering near you, it’s a strong sign that his mate has already begun to build her nest. Although they can’t sting, male carpenter bees are very loyal and will use their bodies as a shield. Male bees also hover when they’re looking for a mate.