The term “black bee” is a common description applied to several groups of bees that share a distinctly dark, sometimes nearly black, coloration, rather than referring to a single species. These varied insects range from large, wood-borers to tiny, metallic ground-dwellers, and even include a specific subspecies of the familiar honey bee. Identifying where a “black bee” lives and makes its nest depends entirely on classifying which group it belongs to, as their habitats are vastly different. This article explores the major bee groups often identified by their dark appearance and details their specific nesting behaviors and native ranges.
The Large, Wood-Boring Black Bees (Carpenter Bees)
The most recognizable insect often called a black bee is the Carpenter Bee, belonging to the genus Xylocopa, which includes over 400 species worldwide. These bees are substantial in size, comparable to a large bumblebee, but their appearance is distinctively different. For example, Xylocopa virginica, common in the eastern United States, has a prominent, shiny, mostly hairless black abdomen that contrasts sharply with its yellow-haired thorax.
Carpenter Bees earn their name from their nesting behavior, which involves excavating galleries in wood using their powerful mandibles. They prefer dry, dead, non-decayed wood, commonly targeting structural timbers, fence posts, redwood, or dead trees. The female chews a round entrance hole perpendicular to the grain, before turning and creating a linear tunnel parallel to the grain, sometimes up to 47 cm long.
Inside these tunnels, the female partitions the gallery into a series of cells, using a mixture of chewed wood fiber and saliva to create walls. Each cell holds a single egg provisioned with a pollen and nectar loaf. These nests may be reused for multiple seasons by new generations. While they can be solitary, it is common for several females to share a communal nest entrance. These large bees inhabit a broad range of ecosystems, from tropical to temperate zones, making them a noticeable presence in human-built environments.
The Smaller, Solitary Dark Bees (Mason and Sweat Bees)
Other dark-colored bees are much smaller, solitary, and possess entirely different nesting habits, primarily categorized as ground-nesters or cavity-nesters. The family Halictidae, commonly known as Sweat Bees, is the second-largest family of bees and is found globally, with many species appearing dark brown, black, or metallic. The vast majority of these bees construct their nests underground, often favoring bare soil, clay banks, or riverbanks, where the female digs a burrow to house her young.
Mason Bees, from the genus Osmia, are another group of solitary bees, often featuring a dark, metallic blue or black sheen. Unlike carpenter bees, Mason Bees are cavity-nesters, meaning they use existing holes rather than excavating their own. They utilize hollow plant stems, abandoned beetle tunnels in dead wood, or spaces in loose masonry. The female collects mud, hence the name “mason,” to construct protective partitions and cap the cells containing her eggs and provisioned food.
The Native Range of the European Dark Honey Bee
A final type of black bee is the European Dark Honey Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera), a subspecies of the Western Honey Bee. This bee is stockier than other honey bee subspecies and is characterized by its very dark coloration, with dense, dark hair on its thorax and sparse, brownish hair on its abdomen. Its native range is historically vast, covering Northern and Western Europe, stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Ural Mountains in Russia.
This subspecies evolved in isolation following the last Ice Age and is adapted to the cooler, damper climates typical of regions like the British Isles and Scandinavia. It was introduced to North America by colonists in the 17th century, where it was sometimes referred to as the “English Fly,” but its modern presence there is often hybridized. Today, purer stock is largely confined to protected populations in its native Northern European range, where it is valued for its hardiness and ability to conserve stores during long winters.