# Southern carpenter bee (Xylocopa micans) > A large, solitary carpenter bee with a shiny dark-blue to black body that nests in dead wood and is an important spring pollinator. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/southern-carpenter-bee/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Can sting.** Females can sting and the sting is painful but rarely medically serious for people not allergic. Males cannot sting but may behave aggressively by chasing. For a sting: wash with soap and water, apply a cold pack to reduce swelling, and take an antihistamine or analgesic if needed. Seek medical help if there are signs of severe allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, widespread hives, fainting). **Pets:** Stings can be painful to cats and dogs; reactions are uncommon but possible. Keep pets away from active nests to avoid multiple stings. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Xylocopa micans - Order: Hymenoptera (Bees, wasps and ants) - Family: Apidae (Apid bees) - Size: 15-25 mm body length (about 1.5-2.5 cm) - Colours: Metallic blue-black, Black, Dark smoky brown (wings) - Habitat: Dead wood, fence posts, eaves, untreated wooden structures, cane stems and thick plant stalks in open sunny sites and gardens - Range: Southeastern United States, from Virginia south to Florida and west along the Gulf Coast to Texas - Active: Spring through summer (peak activity in spring); diurnal, most active during warm sunny hours - Lifespan: Adults can live up to about a year: new adults emerge in late summer, overwinter inside the nest tunnels and nest the following spring - Effect on plants: Pollinator - Pest: yes ## Overview Xylocopa micans is a large solitary bee native to the southeastern United States and nearby regions. Females bore tunnels in dead wood, wooden structures and plant stems to build brood cells; each cell is provisioned with pollen and nectar for a single egg. Adults are active in spring and summer and are important pollinators of garden plants, fruit trees and native flowers. Males are territorial and may hover around nest entrances but cannot sting; females have a sting but are generally non-aggressive unless handled or provoked. ## How to identify it Adults are robust and noticeably larger than many other bees. The body is mostly glossy dark blue-black to black, often appearing metallic in good light. The abdomen is rounded and often shiny rather than hairy. Females have thicker bodies and a sting; males are similar in size but have a pale yellow face and yellowish hair on the thorax, and lack a functional sting. Wings are smoky to dark and may have a bluish sheen. - Very large, robust bee with a glossy dark blue-black or black body and rounded, shiny abdomen - Solitary behavior: individual tunnels in wood rather than colonies or combs - Males often hover near nest entrances and may show paler facial markings - Wings smoky or dark with a slight bluish sheen in good light ## Lookalikes - **Eastern carpenter bee** (Xylocopa virginica): X. virginica is similar in size and habits; females of X. virginica often have more obvious yellowish hairs on the thorax and X. micans tends to appear darker and more uniformly metallic. Range and local field guides help separate them. - **Bumble bee** (Bombus spp.): Bumble bees are hairy and banded with yellow/black and have fuzzy abdomens; carpenter bees are smoother, shinier and often uniformly dark. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Laid in separate brood cells inside a wood tunnel on a pollen-nectar mass prepared by the female. - **Larva:** Larvae feed on the stored pollen-nectar provision and grow inside the sealed cell. - **Pupa:** Larvae pupate within the cell and develop into adults over the summer. - **Adult:** New adults emerge in late summer, feed, and overwinter in the tunnels; in spring they mate and females excavate and provision new brood tunnels. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Pollen and nectar provided by the mother in brood cells - Adults eat: Nectar for energy and pollen for protein; visit a variety of flowers - Predators of the young: Bee flies, parasitic wasps, woodpeckers and fungal pathogens can attack brood in tunnels - Predators of adults: Birds, robber flies, dragonflies and predatory insects ## Effect on plants and gardens Adults forage on a wide range of flowering plants, including wildflowers, fruit trees and garden crops. They transfer pollen effectively because of their large size and foraging behavior. ### How to get rid of it Preventive measures: seal or paint exposed wood, fill old tunnels with wood putty or caulk, and use pressure-treated or metal flashing around vulnerable wood. For active nests: wait until the bees have left in autumn or treat the holes, then plug them with wooden dowels, wood putty or caulk and repaint the wood (adults may overwinter inside tunnels). Professional removal or targeted insecticide treatments can be used when nests threaten structural timber; follow local regulations and prefer non-chemical exclusion when possible. ## Where and when to find it Look for adults visiting flowers in sunny gardens and near wooden structures. Check dead wood, fence posts, eaves and cane stems for round entrance holes and tunnels for nests (inspect in late season or after nest abandonment). - Best time: Spring and early summer, during warm sunny hours (mid-morning to afternoon) when flowers are open and bees are active. - Tips: Photograph from a distance to avoid disturbing nesting females. Use a telephoto or zoom lens to capture behavior and the nest entrance without getting too close. ## Fun facts - Carpenter bees do not eat wood; females excavate tunnels to create brood cells but feed on nectar and pollen. - Although solitary, multiple females may nest in the same piece of wood, creating a small cluster of tunnels. - Males, which cannot sting, are territorial and may hover or chase intruders while guarding nest sites. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are southern carpenter bees dangerous? Only mildly. Females can sting if handled or crushed, which is painful but rarely medically serious. Males cannot sting but may be bold and chase people. ### Do southern carpenter bees chew wood and damage my house? Yes, females bore tunnels in untreated or weathered wood and can cause cosmetic and, over many years or with heavy infestation, structural damage. Painted or sealed wood is much less attractive. ### How do I get rid of carpenter bees? Prevention is best: paint or seal exposed wood, fill old tunnels, and use hardwood or treated lumber. For active nests, professional removal or timed treatments after dusk may be necessary. Avoid widespread insecticide use when possible because these bees are valuable pollinators. ### Do carpenter bees pollinate flowers? Yes. They are effective pollinators for many plants due to their size and foraging behavior, and they visit fruit trees, garden flowers and native plants. ### Why is a large bee hovering near my porch? Males often patrol and hover near nest entrances to defend territory and find mates. They may appear aggressive but cannot sting. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/133788), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylocopa_micans). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.