Insect · GBIF taxon 1342324
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginicaAlso known as Virginia Carpenter Bee
Eastern carpenter bees resemble bumblebees but feature a shiny, hairless black abdomen that distinguishes them at a glance. Males territoriality patrol near nest sites and aggressively buzz at intruders, though they lack a sting and pose no danger. Females construct nesting galleries by chewing circular entry holes into dead trees or unpainted outdoor wood structures.
PollinatorSolitary BeeWood Boring
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Floral Nectar
- Pollen
Predators
- Woodpeckers
- Mantises
- Robber Flies
ThreatsInsecticides, habitat loss, and destruction of nest sites by homeowners
HabitatsDeciduous forests, parks, gardens, and wooden human structures
Life span1 to 2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderHymenoptera
- FamilyApidae
- GenusXylocopa
- SpeciesXylocopa virginica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Females possess a sting that can trigger allergic reactions if handled; males are stingless and harmless.
- Why it is dangerous
- Females possess a sting that delivers mild venom, which can provoke localized pain or severe allergic anaphylaxis in sensitized individuals.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a large, robust body resembling a bumblebee but with a hairless, shiny black abdomen and yellow thorax.
- What to do
- Give nesting sites space and do not attempt to catch or squeeze bees in your hand.
Responsible observation
- Male Buzzing: Do not panic if a bee hovers close to your face, as stingless males often defend territories.
- Gardening for Bees: Plant native flowering perennials like milkweeds and salvias to support foraging females.
- Wood Protection: Paint or stain exterior timber to discourage females from excavating nest tunnels.
Look-Alike USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA / Public domain · cc0
Predator "Male Downy Woodpecker" by ShenandoahNPS is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. · cc0
Close Relative Bob Peterson from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth! / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Sam Droege, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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