Carpenter bees get their name from their ability to drill through wood and nest in the hole. They are worldwide in distribution with 7 species occurring in the United States.

• Problematic species in this area is the Eastern Carpenter Bee – Xylocopa virginica.
• The male has a yellow face.
• The female's is black.
• They can resemble bumble bees, but the upper surface of their abdomen is bare and shiny black, while bumble bees have a hairy abdomen with at least some yellow markings
• Bees will scout to select a suitable unpainted, weathered or smooth wood area to start their gallery. Their drilling creates a near-perfect hole, approximately 3/8” to ½” in diameter.
• Once inside the wood, the tunnel will typically turn 90 degrees. The female carpenter bee will tunnel into the wood from 6 " to as long as 4 feet to lay their eggs in "galleries".
• Entrance is usually located on the underside of the wood surface; including siding, soffits, decks, overhangs, fence posts and window frames. TThey may also bore in from the side.
• Damage is typically cosmetic, not structural.