Carpenter bees are large – up to one inch long – with a wide yellow band on their backs and shiny black abdomens. They are so named because they nest in wood, boring into dead wood, bamboo, or any wood structure to create a network of tunnels for their colony. The nests have only one entrance and can be recognized by a single bore hole just large enough for these large bees to enter.
While their nesting habits can be somewhat destructive, especially if they have targeted wood trim or decking, carpenter bees do not actually eat wood. They bore through it using the vibration of their bodies, keeping the tunnels near the surface of their chosen wood piece or tree limb. They feed on pollen and nectar, making them important for pollinating flowers and vegetables.
Male carpenter bees do not have stingers. Females do have stingers, but are not typically aggressive, stinging only if they are threatened. As with other bees, activity is highest in the spring during mating season and in the fall during food gathering for winter hibernation.