Habitat for Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)
Habitat for Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)
Ebrahima Koma, William Sundell, Ryan Mellen
Joyce Hwang Studio
Crafted from solid wood with minimal paint, this carpenter bee habitat features natural textures like grooves, ridges, and valleys to appeal to these burrowers. Look for “starter holes” at ridge intersections that are highlighted with white and ultraviolet paint.
Meet the Pollinator
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Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica)
Learn more about the unique lifestyle of the Eastern carpenter bee. Voiced by Kit Schneider.
TranscriptI am an Eastern carpenter bee. I only have a little bit of time to talk, so I’ll try to make this quick!
I look a bit like a bumble bee, but our lifestyles are very different. I live with my family inside a hunk of wood. I started my nest by chewing a hole into the cleanest, straightest piece of cedar wood I could find.
Using my powerful mandibles, I can dig about one inch of tunnel per day. My offspring live in one tunnel, my food goes in another, and I have other tunnels for the female bees who are here helping me out. When I’m not digging, I collect pollen from many different crops and flowers to feed everyone.
My two years of life have been tough. But my little nest has grown large, and I did my best to make it as cozy as possible.
Okay, gotta go! Bye!
