Carpenter Bee Forest Huval, D. Ring, K.Pollet

Description The large carpenter bee belongs to the family Apidae (Xylocopa spp.). There are seven species of carpenter bees in the United States. The eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) is the most destructive. While a potentially destructive species, these bees are also effective pollinators of many crops and flowers. Adults are sometimes confused with bumblebees, but these bees are unaggressive and rarely sting.

Life Cycle Carpenter bees are commonly known to bore into and damage wooden materials. These tunnels are the nesting sites where larval bees develop. Entrance holes are one-half inch (1.3 cm) in diameter and can be found in wooden structures. Infestations are first noted by the piles of fresh sawdust from the chewed wood from the tunnel. The tunnels go across the grain of the wood, then turn at right angles to go with the grain and extend for 4 to 6 inches. Once the tunnel is made, the bees fill the cells with pollen and regurgitated nectar and form it into a ball. Females lay eggs on the pollen and then wall off the cell with chewed wood pulp. They repeat the process until five or six cells are completed. Each cell is about 1 inch long. The pollen in the cells is the food that the larva uses to complete its development in about 36 days. The carpenter TOP: Bombus bee (bumblebee), B. Merle Shepard, bees overwinter in old tunnels. Those that survive emerge Clemson University, Bugwood.org. in the spring and feed on nectar. Mating begins and BOTTOM: Adult carpenter bee, Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org. continues until nesting or drilling begins. Seasonality and Control Carpenter Bees vs. Bumblebees Carpenter bees have one generation per year. Adults Bumblebees live in colonies, while carpenter bees are are active in late summer, and larva will develop over solitary, with only a single pair per tunnel. Bumblebees winter. Applying an appropriate insecticide into the gallery tend to be very aggressive when disturbed and will sting will stop adults and control the emerging young when repeatedly. Carpenter bees are not aggressive and seldom they develop. To allow the adult bees to make contact with sting unless caught in clothing, hair or the hands. The males the control material, do not seal the holes immediately tend to guard the tunnels and will hover in your face and after treating. A preventive treatment may be made using buzz around your head. Because the male has no stinger, a borate formulation, such as Tim-bor or Bora-Care, on these actions are merely for show. The female, however, existing structures and using borate pressure-treated does have a very painful sting. wood when building or replacing damaged wood.

Visit our website: www.lsuagcenter.com LEFT: Carpenter bee hole, David L. Clement, University of Maryland, Bugwood.org. RIGHT: Larva chambers in wood USDA Forest Service, Wood Products Insect Lab, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.

Life Cycle Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Carpenter bee Adult Pupa Eggs Larva Eggs

References D. K. Pollet and Ring, D. R. 2002. Carpenterbees. Bug Biz. Pub 2875. 2 pgs.

Authors: Forest Huval, D. Ring, K.Pollet

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