Small Carpenter Bee

Natural Habitat

Gardens, meadows, and areas with pithy-stemmed plants like roses, blackberries, and sumac.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on nectar and collect pollen to feed their larvae.

Behavior Patterns

Solitary bees that nest by excavating the soft pith from the center of dead twigs or stems. They are most active in spring and summer.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits: Important pollinators for native plants and garden flowers. Risks: They are very docile and rarely sting unless squeezed or handled roughly; the sting is minor.

Identified on: 6/13/2026