Carpenter Bee vs Bumblebee
Carpenter bees and bumble bees can be differentiated by several key characteristics.
Abdominal Appearance
- Bumble bees: Hairy with black and yellow stripes, fuzzy look.
- Carpenter bees: Mostly bald, smooth, shiny, typically black.
Size
- Bumble bees: Workers 6-25mm, queens 17-25mm.
- Carpenter bees: 12.5-25mm, can be slightly larger than bumble bees.
Color
- Bumble bees: Black, yellow, and sometimes orange stripes.
- Carpenter bees: Typically all black or metallic, males may have yellow or white on their faces.
Nesting Habitat
- Bumble bees: Social, nest in groups in abandoned burrows or similar places.
- Carpenter bees: Solitary, tunnel into wood for nesting, prefer softer wood.
Lifecycle
- Bumble bees: Queens lay eggs in winter, bees mature in summer.
- Carpenter bees: Go through egg, larvae, pupa, and adult stages in about seven weeks.
Behavior
- Bumble bees: Social, live in colonies, can cause damage to wooden structures due to nesting.
- Carpenter bees: Solitary, known to cause damage to wooden structures.
Stingers
- Bumble bees: All have stingers.
- Carpenter bees: 12.5-25mm, can be slightly larger than bumble bees.
Pollination
- Bumble bees: Pollinate in various conditions, not selective.
- Carpenter bees: More selective, pollinate in favorable weather conditions only.