Xylocopa Carpenter Bees

Genus Xylocopa

Xylocopa, or carpenter bees, are a genus of large, robust bees in the Apidae family, known for their unique wood-burrowing nesting behavior. Carpenter bees are typically black, but some species may have metallic blue or green tints. They are among the larger bees, with body lengths ranging from 12 to 25 mm or more. Some species can be mistaken for bumblebees due to their size, though carpenter bees have a shinier, more hairless abdomen. Carpenter bees are solitary nesters that bore into soft or untreated wood to create tunnels. These tunnels serve as nests where they lay their eggs. Unlike termites, they do not eat wood; they simply excavate it.