The Bug "O" Pedia -Carpenter Bee

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BEES & WASPS MAIN >> CARPENTER BEE

CARPENTER BEE

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Carpenter Bee: Genus Xylocopa
Appearance: Large, about one inch, resemble bumble-bees; some species may have a blue-black, green or purple metallic sheen; no hair on abdomen.
Habits: Often burrow into the exposed, unfinished dry wood of buildings, telephone poles, fence posts and bridges; prefer softer woods for nesting; not social insects, although individuals may establish burrows close to each other.
Diet: Pollen and nectar.
Reproduction: Complete one generation per year in most of the U.S.; mature from egg to adult in from 84 to 99 days; female furnishes nest with "bee bread," a mixture of pollen and regurgitated nectar, and lays an egg on top of it.
Other Information: Damage to wood from a pair of bees is slight, but a larger number can, over a period of time, cause considerable damage; do not sting; make loud buzzing noise when flying.