When you first see this bee, you might think black bumblebee, but nope, it's not even in the same genus. This is none other than the sonoran carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina. The name comes from the Greek for wood cutter, and there you have it: they nest and rear their offspring in wood structures, or old logs, like the ones in my backyard do. They don't actually eat the wood, but make a fair amount of sawdust in the process of excavating their tunnels. Some of this sawdust is used to enclose the eggs which they have laid on a pollen ball in the back of the tunnel. The larvae hatch and spend some time maturing before venturing out on their own. They are said to be solitary bees, though the ones that live in my backyard share the same log. I have seen females as well as males snuggled into separate tunnels on the same log. In the picture I took below, you might be able to see the the female and male in the tunnels on opposite sides of each other. The females are black and have stingers; the males are golden and are stingerless. They seem to love the purple flowers in my yard, especially the lilikoi, of which they are important pollinators. The sonoran carpenter is said to be shy, not likely to sting, though I myself was stung when I was moving around some cut logs and discovered them. The initial pain was searingly hot, but quickly subsided and seemed less painful than other bee stings I have had. But no offense taken - I quite like them and the way they lumber happily around the yard in search of nectar.
6 Comments
mike
6/13/2014 07:51:46 pm
great job with ur knowledge transfer. do u know species/genus, etc... I'm sending a cross, (like the Jesus kind) constructed of driftwood w/their holes. clarify if the holes are from parent laying larva, or larva eating their way out...or both. wanted to include thisinfo to make it a uber-special addition to my friend's wall-o-crosses.
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Jeanne
6/14/2014 08:40:46 am
I haven't seen them excavating. Just see the sawdust accumulating from the process. It is my understanding that the parent makes the tunnel and then lays the eggs in the back of the chamber.
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7/19/2016 12:02:34 am
Have you ever seen them stuff shells into the holes? Or know of another insect that does that?
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Jeanne
7/19/2016 12:15:32 am
No, I haven't. Seems like you have though. Hmmmm.
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Stan Lukezic
6/17/2018 06:41:47 pm
Interesting story.
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Valerie A Martinez
4/18/2023 10:57:59 am
Great site. Looking up Carpenter Bee, stumbled upon your site. A gorgeous carpenter bee landed on me a few years back and I'd love to share the cutest picture of my bee-friend with you/your site if you are interested. Mahalo - Valerie (from SF, visit hawaii often).
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