This bee, if I've identified it correctly, is a male _big red large carpenter bee_, a name both unimaginative and tautological.

In case anyone's curious about other big South African bees, this excellent guide features another 57 of them, including the
* weird-legged large carpenter bee
* spectacular neon cuckoo bee
* fuzzy flower-loving digger bee
* dippy dauber bee
* yellow-bummed pot bee
https://www.sanbi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2024_Suricata-11.pdf

#bees #CarpenterBees

So, I can say that given the observations made by myself, my hubby and my neighbors, the bumblebees have made a HUGE comeback in #SouthernMaine this year (despite the drought)! There were very low #Bumblebee populations last year (more #CarpenterBees and #honeybees and a few smaller #NativeBees). A lot of us are #GardeningForPollnators and #GardeningWithoutChemicals , so I think that's helping!

#SolarPunkSunday #Bees #BeeHugger #BeeHuggah

A bee-utiful afternoon in the lavender patch.

#carpenterbees
#entomology
#nature
#insects

Saw that carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) again today …

#photography #nature #wildlife #insects #bees #CarpenterBees #Göttingen #Fujifilm #FujifilmXT2 #Fujinon #XF90mm

(photo: @kernpanik | license: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

A violet carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea), spotted in #Goettingen, Germany.

#photography #nature #wildlife #insects #bees #CarpenterBees #Göttingen #Fujifilm #FujifilmXT2 #Fujinon #XF90mm

(photos: @kernpanik | license: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

The carpenter bees in our yard have plenty of wood to nest in, and are *not* in our house. But good to know what to do if they decide to take up residence.

Simple Ways to Get Carpenter Bees to Stop Remodeling Your Home

None of these tips involve extermination.
Popular Science

by Julia Rittenberg

Excerpt: "How to safely remove carpenter bees

"Despite the issues carpenter bees can cause, they are extremely effective pollinators. Nick Hoefly, a beekeeper at Astor Apiaries in Queens, New York, says that thanks to their size, these hefty bugs are excellent “buzz” pollinators. “This is a type of pollination where the insect vibrates the blossom to dislodge pollen, allowing it to fall onto the female parts of the plant,” he says. “Many vegetables and fruits, including tomatoes and some berries, rely on this type of pollination.”

"That’s why it’s best to get carpenter bees to leave without hurting them. Hoefly recommends applying a drop of almond or citrus oil inside any nest holes you find. Since they don’t like the smell, they will most likely vacate and search elsewhere for a less-stinky place to build a nest. After they leave, you’ll need to fill the holes with wood putty or steel wool. If you have wood the bees haven’t found yet, take some time to sand it down, wipe away any excess sawdust with a wet sponge, and then paint it. Carpenter bees are attracted to unfinished wood.

"If you have no interest in keeping these pollinators around, Hoefly suggests using wind chimes. The bees don’t like the noise and the constant jangling might convince them to seek other accommodations.

"But if you do want them to stay, you can provide homes specifically for them. This will keep them around, pollinating your garden and local plants. You can place simple blocks of wood around that you wouldn’t mind them burrowing into, but Bruce Shriver, a beekeeper at the Gowanus Apiary in Brooklyn, New York, prefers “insect hotel-style habitats.”

"You can find these at any home goods or hardware store or even make them yourself out of scrap wood and naturally hollow material. “As long as the habitat includes a block of soft wood in addition to the reeds, bamboo, straw, and other materials… it should serve well as a decent carpenter bee habitat,” Shriver says. You’ll have all the benefits of these super-pollinators without them hovering around and burrowing into your fences. "

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/simple-ways-to-get-carpenter-bees-to-stop-remodeling-your-home?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

#SolarPunkSunday #NoInsecticides #Pollinators #CarpenterBees #Bees

I'm excited. Our little carpenter bee house has occupants!

I imagine them standing out on the edge of their tube in the morning, drinking some nectar and anticipating a glorious day of buzzing.

#CarpenterBees #bees