Carpenter Bees

In continuing with a series of posts based on the article in Natural History titled Unsung heroines of pollination (May 1997 Vol. 106 Issue 4, p42), carpenter bees are the subject of this blog entry. Carpenter bees are large and look like bumblebees. Unlike bumblebees however, which are social in nature, carpenter bees are solitary. Although they tend to be found in tropical climates there are eight species found in North America. Wildflowers and crops are pollinated by carpenter bees in North America. Carpenter bees are ideally suited to pollinate certain flowers because of their size which can be advantagous with certain structures. Passion fruit flowers, which includes the North American maypop, are examples of flowers benefiting from pollination by carpenter bees.

While male carpenter bees near nests and flowers, pregnant females prefer tunnels in soft dry wood. This can include wood found in homes. Neat round entrance holes mark the nests.