Carpenter Bees vs Bumblebees, Which is Which?

As the temperature rises, and you spend more time outdoors, you might notice the frequent buzzing of bees around your patio or porch. There are many different types of bees, so you might be wondering which one has been hanging around! There are 2 types that are most often found in the Ohio area; bumblebees and carpenter bees. It can be hard to differentiate between the two if you don’t know what you’re looking for. However, with a few of these tips, you will be able to identify both species with ease! We will dive into some interesting facts about both bees, and find some similarities and differences.

These species of bees look very similar, but if you look closely, you can spot the differences. If you examine their abdomens, it is clear that carpenter bees have smooth-looking abdomens, while bumblebees possess visible hairs with a yellow band at the end. Furthermore, the heads of these 2 species are different. Carpenter bees have a solid black head, while bumblebees have heads that are black and yellow. You might notice that carpenter bees are slightly larger than bumblebees as well.

In addition to their appearance, these species of bees have vastly different behavior. Carpenter bees have gotten their name because of their noticeable habit of excavating precise rounded holes into wood. Using their jaws, they chew into dead trunks or limbs of trees. They carve these holes in order to reproduce during the spring. They also form nests by tunneling into the wood, with each nest having a singular entrance leading to adjacent tunnels. Carpenter bees are solitary insects, with only one generation per nest. On the other hand, bumblebees live in hives, with hundreds of bees within each colony. Within each colony, only the queen bee lays eggs, and reproduces for the entire hive.

Both species of bees benefit the environment, and the ecosystem that they support. Both carpenter bees and bumblebees consume nectar, and are therefore pollinators. As they travel from flower to flower, they pick up pollen, and transfer the pollen to other areas. This boosts fertilization and reproduction of plants.

Another similarity between bumblebees and carpenter bees is that only female bees for both species can sting. However, you don’t have anything to worry about unless they are provoked! If you leave them alone, they most likely will do the same. Although they are often harmless, carpenter bees can inflict notable damage to wood if infestations are left untreated. So, it is important to be aware of where they are nesting, and how close their nest is to your home.

If you recognize the telltale signs of carpenter bees, and you think that they are a little too close for comfort, you can give us a call at Envirocare Pest Solutions! It can be overwhelming to deal with these kind of issues yourself, and we guarantee that we can remove your problem, without impacting the environment.