Carpenter bees are large insects often noticed hovering near homes and outdoor structures. These bees are known for their unique nesting habits, which involve boring into wood. Their distinctive flight patterns, particularly when they appear to follow or approach people, are a common observation.
Understanding Carpenter Bee Behavior
The hovering and apparent “following” behavior is primarily exhibited by male carpenter bees. Males are territorial, patrolling areas they consider their domain, often near nesting sites or where they anticipate encountering females for mating. When a human or object enters this territory, the male may investigate, flying close and buzzing loudly. This behavior is a defensive display, a bluff to protect their territory from other male bees and potential predators.
Male carpenter bees also hover as part of their mating rituals, seeking to attract females. They may release pheromones to lure females, and if a female enters their territory, they will attempt to mate. The male’s role is largely to defend this area, while the female focuses on nest construction and laying eggs.
Carpenter Bees Versus Bumblebees
Carpenter bees are frequently confused with bumblebees due to their similar size and general appearance. However, distinct visual differences aid identification. Carpenter bees typically have a shiny, hairless black abdomen, which contrasts with their fuzzy, yellow thorax. Bumblebees, in contrast, have hairy abdomens, often with black and yellow bands across their entire body, giving them a more uniformly fuzzy appearance.
Their nesting habits also differ significantly. Carpenter bees tunnel into wood for their young. Bumblebees are social insects that form colonies, usually nesting in existing cavities, often underground in abandoned rodent burrows or other sheltered spaces.
Assessing the Threat
Despite their hovering and buzzing, male carpenter bees do not possess a stinger and are incapable of stinging humans. Their aggressive-seeming flights are merely territorial displays. While they may dart at threats, they pose no actual physical danger.
Female carpenter bees have stingers and can sting, but they are generally not aggressive. A female will only sting if directly provoked or handled, or if her nest is disturbed. Their sting is often described as painful but is typically less severe than that of a honeybee or wasp unless an individual has an allergy. Remaining calm and slowly moving away is the best response if a carpenter bee approaches.
Why Carpenter Bees Are Drawn to Your Property
Carpenter bees are attracted to properties offering suitable nesting sites. They prefer to bore into untreated, weathered, or unpainted wood, making structures like decks, eaves, fascia boards, siding, and outdoor furniture potential targets. Softer woods such as redwood, cedar, cypress, pine, and fir are particularly favored.
The female bee excavates a round entrance hole, about half an inch in diameter, which then turns at a right angle to follow the wood grain, creating a tunnel that can extend for several inches or even feet. These tunnels are used to lay eggs, each provisioned with pollen and nectar. While their wood-boring activities can be a concern, carpenter bees are also important pollinators of various plants, including many fruits and vegetables.