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TranslateXylocopa (Carpenter Bees)
Xylocopa (Linnaeus, 1758) Commonly known as “Carpenter Bees”.
There must be several different Species of Carpenter Bees in Spain, this species seems to be between 12 to 15mm in length, being smaller than The Violet Carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea), which can reach between 20 to 22mm in length. As yet I have still unable to identify this smaller species.
Carpenter Bees can be found over most of Europe and Asia. They can cause substantial damage to wood if infestations go undetected for several years.
The "Carpenter bee" name derives from their nesting behaviour; nearly all species burrow into hard plant material, such as dead wood.
Xylocopa is not an aggressive bee species, the male bee does not have a stinger, although the female does but very unlikely, she will use it; unless she feels threatened.
Flight Season …February to November. (Hibernated females can emerge in late winter).
Habitats and Nesting. Widespread and varied, coastal, grasslands, orchards, vineyards, and gardens. Carpenter Bees are solitary Bees, the male will guard and protect the nest while the female prepares the nest and lays the eggs. (The eggs are very large relative to the size of the female, and are some of the largest eggs among all insects). Nests are excavated in dead wood and it is the female that bores the holes in wood and hollow stems. (In Spain, occasionally a female carpenter bee will closely inspect our wooden garden furniture, obviously looking for a chance to start a nest).
Once she has hollowed out a tunnel, she will construct a cell where she will deposit an egg. Before sealing each cell, food (a pollen ball) will be added aiding the future larvae to develop on its own.
Carpenter Bees do not eat wood they feed on a wide range of flowering shrubs and plants for pollen and nectar. They are very important pollinators for a number of plants as their short mouthparts are able to pollinate open-faced or shallow flowers. The maypop (Passiflora incarnata, known as the passion flower) and Orphium, depend on the carpenter bee as they are not pollinated by any other insect. Carpenter bees are also important pollinators of flowers with various forms of lids, such as Salvia species and some members of the Fabaceae.
The main bird predators are woodpeckers, Bee-eaters, and shrikes. Woodpeckers are attracted to the noise of the bee larvae, with their powerful beak they are able to extract the bee larvae from their cells. Large species of Asilidae (Robber-flies) prey on the adult bees, Bee-flies and the Parasitoid wasp species also capitalise from the Carpenter Bee.
Read MoreThere must be several different Species of Carpenter Bees in Spain, this species seems to be between 12 to 15mm in length, being smaller than The Violet Carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea), which can reach between 20 to 22mm in length. As yet I have still unable to identify this smaller species.
Carpenter Bees can be found over most of Europe and Asia. They can cause substantial damage to wood if infestations go undetected for several years.
The "Carpenter bee" name derives from their nesting behaviour; nearly all species burrow into hard plant material, such as dead wood.
Xylocopa is not an aggressive bee species, the male bee does not have a stinger, although the female does but very unlikely, she will use it; unless she feels threatened.
Flight Season …February to November. (Hibernated females can emerge in late winter).
Habitats and Nesting. Widespread and varied, coastal, grasslands, orchards, vineyards, and gardens. Carpenter Bees are solitary Bees, the male will guard and protect the nest while the female prepares the nest and lays the eggs. (The eggs are very large relative to the size of the female, and are some of the largest eggs among all insects). Nests are excavated in dead wood and it is the female that bores the holes in wood and hollow stems. (In Spain, occasionally a female carpenter bee will closely inspect our wooden garden furniture, obviously looking for a chance to start a nest).
Once she has hollowed out a tunnel, she will construct a cell where she will deposit an egg. Before sealing each cell, food (a pollen ball) will be added aiding the future larvae to develop on its own.
Carpenter Bees do not eat wood they feed on a wide range of flowering shrubs and plants for pollen and nectar. They are very important pollinators for a number of plants as their short mouthparts are able to pollinate open-faced or shallow flowers. The maypop (Passiflora incarnata, known as the passion flower) and Orphium, depend on the carpenter bee as they are not pollinated by any other insect. Carpenter bees are also important pollinators of flowers with various forms of lids, such as Salvia species and some members of the Fabaceae.
The main bird predators are woodpeckers, Bee-eaters, and shrikes. Woodpeckers are attracted to the noise of the bee larvae, with their powerful beak they are able to extract the bee larvae from their cells. Large species of Asilidae (Robber-flies) prey on the adult bees, Bee-flies and the Parasitoid wasp species also capitalise from the Carpenter Bee.
