Eastern Carpenter Bee

Scientific Name: Xylocopa virginica

Order & Family: Hymenoptera: Apidae

Size: 19 to 25 mm in length

Eastern Carpenter Bee

Natural Habitat

Found in meadows, gardens, and urban areas near wooden structures like decks, eaves, and fences.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on nectar and pollen from various flowers; may engage in 'nectar robbing' by piercing flower bases.

Behavior Patterns

Solitary bees that chew perfectly round holes into dead wood or structural timber to create nesting tunnels. Males are territorial but cannot sting.

Risks & Benefits

Crucial pollinators for many crops and wild plants, though they can cause cosmetic or minor structural damage to untreated wood over many years.

Identified on: 6/11/2026