Bug Identifier
Carpenter Bee
Community identification

Carpenter Bee

Xylocopa violacea

Order & Family
Hymenoptera: Apidae
Size
20 to 30 millimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found in gardens, parks, and wooded areas across Europe and parts of Asia and Africa

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on nectar and pollen from a variety of flowers

Behavior Patterns

Solitary bees that do not live in colonies; they are known for boring holes into dead wood or structural timber to create nesting tunnels

Risks & Benefits

Important pollinators for many plants; generally non-aggressive to humans but can cause cosmetic damage to wood structures