Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)

Order: Hymenoptera (hy-men-OP-ter-a) (Info) Family: Apidae Genus: Xylocopa Species: virginica Profile: 4 positives 6 neutrals No negatives Regional... This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions: Deer, Arkansas Marion, Arkansas Brooksville, Florida Lutz, Florida Augusta, Georgia Canton, Georgia Savannah, Georgia Brookeville, Maryland Boston, Massachusetts Columbus, Mississippi Cole Camp, Missouri Beachwood, New Jersey Dover, North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina High Point, North Carolina Akron, Ohio Barberton, Ohio Glouster, Ohio Middleburg, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Dandridge, Tennessee Murfreesboro, Tennessee Baytown, Texas Keller, Texas Hot Springs, Virginia Amma, West Virginia Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Positive okus On Aug 5, 2006, okus from New York(UK!)Lincolnshire (United Kingdom) (Zone 8b) wrote: A great pollinator - when it uses the "official" way into the flowers. Sometimes it "cheats", on tubular flowers such as Mexican Petunias, by boring a hole through the tube to steal the nectar without getting itself covered in pollen. Carpenter bees are much maligned because they bore into wood to make their nests, but usually the damage they do to wood is just cosmetic. Neutral Terry On Aug 14, 2006, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote: On the plus side, they don't sting and they're pollinizers. But on the negative side, they are pests, drilling holes into any exposed wood they find, and making a nuisance of themselves in the process. Neutral sligo On Aug 14, 2006, sligo from Boston, MA (Zone 6a) wrote: Good polinators and non-stinging may be a plus, but they will "destroy" protective facia boards, soffits, and all other house trim boards they decide to call home, even pressure treated wood is not a deterent Neutral Magpye On Aug 21, 2006, Magpye from NW Qtr, AR (Zone 6a) wrote: Carpenter bees cause alarm because they are large insects –­­­ up to about an inch long – resembling bumble bees, the territorial males harass humans and other animals that enter their terrain, and they are often found boring holes in structural timbers, such as rafters and fascia boards. The males lack a stinger, but females have been known to deliver potent stings. Carpenter bees are black, and they have yellow hairs on the thorax and first abdominal segment. Adults differ from bumble bees in that they are not social, the upper surface of the abdomen in mostly devoid of hairs, and the females have a brush of hairs on the hind leg instead of a pollen basket. Males carpenter bees have white faces, but females have dark faces. This species occurs from New England and nearby Canada south to Florida and west to Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and east Texas. It is common in Arkansas. Carpenter bees nest in tunnels in sound wood of dead trees and in structural timbers. They use both soft and hard woods, but they seem to prefer pines. They rarely cause significant damage. Both sexes pass the winter in old nest tunnels. They emerge in spring and mate. Neutral jswords On Sep 21, 2006, jswords from columbus, MS (Zone 7b) wrote: My house has cedar siding, and it looks like pegboard in a wood shop! They are generally non agressive, but here the males seem to have black faces and the females have a yellow dot in the center of their face. Woe be to the person who upsets the female, she will chase you around! Other that constant sweeping of sawdust, i don't mind them. Good thing, pest control says there is nothing that will kill them! jswords Positive Farmerdill On Sep 22, 2006, Farmerdill from Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) wrote: This is the best early pollinator available here, they work much earlier than bumbles. They will do cosmetic damage to houses where wood is exposed. All my machinery sheds are built of rough untreated pine so they have plenty of nesting sites with out bothering anything else. Positive ilovejesus99 On Apr 3, 2007, ilovejesus99 from Baytown, TX (Zone 9b) wrote: This year there were more than I have seen in years. I hope this means more people are using organics. They are big and scarey but also bold and beautiful. I love to see them around and I know to leave them alone. Neutral Grandmaggie On May 22, 2007, Grandmaggie from Beachwood, NJ (Zone 6b) wrote: I am not too sure about this bug. I was not aware of it until I saw little holes in my house (outside). My home is wood sided. And there they were! Chomping away as I watered the gardens. Yes they are very territorial as I walk to my big shed I can hardly get in. Not decided how to handle the situation as of yet.... Neutral CaptMicha On May 7, 2008, CaptMicha from Brookeville, MD (Zone 7a) wrote: While these insects do have beneficial qualities, they're very annoying. Not only do they drill holes in my wood deck but I've been confronted more than once by one flying right next to my face, trying to intimidate me. Even though I had been just sitting there, not making any movement to alarm or surprise it and not near it's nest. Positive primus285 On Aug 28, 2008, primus285 from Barberton, OH wrote: Mostly harmless clumsy insects. The black females DO HAVE STINGERS, but havent shown any interest in attacking. The males are much more agressive (have a white face) and DO NOT have stingers. Just throw something that is bee shaped (like a rock) somewhere and they will go after it. They do drill holes all over the place, but on the plus size, they do keep the wasps away (usually a dozen or so nests, none since the bees moved in). Holes seem to be only cosmetic. Unfortunately I think the wood might be treated, and the exposure to it seems to be harming the bees. They constantly attack eashother and never seem to be able to get into their nests. Regurarlly see one or two dying on the ground (presumably from exhasution from entering the nest) One post above says nothing will kill them, that is incorrect, one substance that seems to kill all insects is Acetone and is avalible at any hardware store. A focused stream of acetone works best and will kill the insect about 5 seconds after it is hit by it.

By okus By okus By okus By ilovejesus99 By ilovejesus99 By pford1854 By pford1854 There are a total of 15 photos. Click here to view them all!