Identifying Carpenter Bees
Identifying Carpenter Bees
[ Carpenter Bee Identification | Inspecting For Carpenter Bees | Treating For Carpenter Bees| Preventing Carpenter Bees ]What Do Carpenter Bees Look Like?
Carpenter Bees are a lot of times confused with bumblebees, but there are some distinguishing features that can help you tell the difference between the two. Carpenter Bees have bare and shiny abdomens, while bumble bees have hairy abdomens with yellow markings. Their flying patterns are also a bit different, as bumble bees fly in a straight and the carpenter bees flight patterns look like they are darting through the air giving chase to the others.
Carpenter Bee Size, Shape, and Color
The Carpenter Bees adult body length is about 1/2 inch to 1 inch. They slightly resemble bumble bees, with the abdomen top mostly bare and shiny. Carpenter Bees are mostly black, but some species may be green, or even slightly purple.
Carpenter Bees have six legs, two sets of wings, and three body segments: head, thorax and abdomen. Male Carpenter Bees don't and can't sting. Female Carpenter Bees can sting, but they would have to be extremely agitated before they do.
Carpenter Bee Damage / Nesting
The damage that Carpenter Bees cause comes from tunneling into wood to create nesting chambers. Carpenter Bees bore entry holes about 1 "inch into their targeted structure. Signs of Carpenter Bee activity will include sawdust piles on the ground and stains on the wood below the holes.
Carpenter Bee Geographical Range
There are several species of Carpenter Bees in the United States and they can be found just about anywhere.