Carpenter bees are species in the genus Xylocopa, subfamily Xylocopinae, comprising some 500 species across 31 subgenera. Their common name comes from their nesting behavior: nearly all species burrow into hard plant material such as dead wood or bamboo to build their nests, the main exception being species of the subgenus Proxylocopa, which instead dig nesting tunnels in suitable soil.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleAgricultural or Structural Pest 1 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceMost species are all black, or primarily black with some yellow or white pubescence 1 Scientific Name Connections
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Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Carpenter bee, Wikipedia
Introductory paragraph
Carpenter bees are species in the genus Xylocopa of the subfamily Xylocopinae.
Characteristics
Most species are all black, or primarily black with some yellow or white pubescence.
- burrows into dead wood/bamboo
Behavior
Carpenter bees can be timber pests, and cause substantial damage to wood if infestations go undetected for several years.
Ecological significance
Carpenter bees have short mouthparts and are important pollinators on some open-faced or shallow flowers; for some they even are obligate pollinators, for example the maypop (Passiflora incarnata) and Orphium, which are not pollinated by any other insects.
View the Source2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ1165550, descriptionView the Source Wikidata: Xylocopa
- Wikidata Q1165550, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Apidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
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