The term carpenter bees apply to several different bees in the US that excavate tunnels in sound wood. Carpenter bees have a similar appearance to bumble bees, but the top surface of the abdomen is black, shiny, and almost entirely hairless.
Adult bees overwinter in wood tunnels and emerge to mate the following spring. After creating new space for space in the existing burrows for eggs, female bees stock the cambers with bee bread, deposit one egg, and seal each chamber.
Carpenter bees can cause damage to wooden structures, including decks, eaves, fences, and wooden furniture. They’re considered a serious property nuisance and even treated as they can cause structural damage if not treated.
These bee species are robust and can measure up to 1 inch long. The upper surface of their abdomens is mainly bare and appears shiny black. The thorax is covered in orange, yellow, or white hair.
As solitary insects, carpenter bees do not build colonies. Each female bee creates its nest gallery inside of a wood surface. Several carpenter bees often use the same piece of wood,