Do you know the difference between a carpenter bee and a bumblebee? Many people get these two species confused because they do look very similar to each other. That being said, we’re going to take a deep dive into the differences so that you can finally be able to tell, carpenter bee vs bumble bee!
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Carpenter Bee Vs Bumble Bee – Telling The Difference:
These two species often get confused because they look similar to one another. The main distinction between these creatures is that carpenter bees tend to be smaller than bumblebees. Along with this, bumble bees are known for their fuzzy hair on their abdomen, where carpenter bees generally won’t have much hair, and can actually be black and shiny!
What Carpenter Bees Look Like
Carpenter bees are the bane of many gardeners. They can appear suddenly and in large numbers, making it difficult to control them without using pesticides. But what do carpenter bees look like?
Carpenters come in various sizes ranging from 1/4-inch to 1 inch long with black or dark brown bodies that have yellow markings around their heads and thoraxes.
What Bumble Bees Look Like
Bumblebees are an interesting and intriguing insect. They have hairy bodies, black and yellow colors or orange to red depending on the species which makes them alluring yet fascinating at the same time as they buzz around your head trying desperately to pollinate plants so that you can enjoy nature’s beauty with their help.
They are social creatures that live in colonies like honeybees do so this is an important thing to keep in mind.
Carpenter Bee Habits
Carpenter Bees have a lot of interesting behaviors that can be studied, but today we will focus on their nesting habits. Carpenter bees nest out of sight from people, so it is common for them to enter the home through cracks and crevices around windows or doors.
The carpenter bee is a larger, slower-moving insect than the bumblebee. Its abdomen has six segments with saw-toothed edges which are not used as weapons against humans or pets. Carpenter bees technically have teeth which are parts of these mandibles which they use to burrow into wood.
Once they establish a colony inside your home, these insect pests often make themselves at home by chewing large tunnels into dry wood such as furniture or flooring. Carpenter bees are generally solitary bees rather than large colonies and they don’t have a queen. Along with this, Carpenter bees have a rather long lifespan, which means you can see them season after season.
This could lead to structural damage over time which may require professional remediation services to fix once you’ve discovered the issue. If you have a carpenter bee issue, you can try a DIY method like using WD-40, or go for the guarantee and see if carpenter bee traps work.
If you see holes around your porch or siding and some yellow liquid dripping down the side of your exterior wall, then you might be wondering, do carpenter bees poop? And yes they do, which is another good way to identify them!
Bumble Bee Habits
The Bumble Bee is an insect that has been known to be a pest in many regions. The bumblebee can cause problems because of their aggressive nature and the stings they inflict on humans.
The bumblebees weren’t just going to any ole flower; they were choosy. They would only visit the flowers that had nectar and pollen then fly off quickly, but not before making a low hum sound.
And this wasn’t their first time at these blooms – when pollinator or flower constancy is present, visiting sites will become predictable over time so as long as there’s always plenty of food for them in those patches, they’ll keep coming back day after day.
If you’re ever wondering why it seems like your garden never has fresh plants added to it anymore despite all the bees around here lately.
Carpenter Bee Nests
Carpenter bees typically nest in poorly sealed or unfinished wood structures such as decks, sheds, and fences and are used as a safe haven from predators such as birds.
Carpenter bee nests can really be found anywhere – however, there is no need to worry if you spot carpenter bees because they generally do not sting humans. Read more about Do Carpenter Bees Sting!
These fascinating creatures only have large mandibles for chewing through wood and pollen-collecting mouthparts which make them harmless to people.
Bumble Bee Nests
Bumblebees are found all over the world, wherever there is a temperate climate. They nest in houses with bird boxes and lofts as well as gardens where they prefer to go unnoticed unless you disturb them by poking around their home which usually ends up being some abandoned hole or compost heap that smells like garbage for good reason.
Carpenter Bee Aggression
Carpenter bees are common and can be extremely aggressive. They do not sting, but they will hover around your face or head while making a loud noise to frighten you.
If you swat them away, they may swarm around your arm and continue attacking. Carpenter bees are attracted to the color yellow so they will usually avoid black clothing or anything with bright colors on it.
Bumble Bee Aggression
Bumblebees are one of the most aggressive bee species in North America. They will sting humans and animals without hesitation, and we need to take precautions when dealing with them.
If you have a carpenter bee problem at your place of residence you must contact an exterminator immediately. These pests will not hesitate to sting humans or animals alike.
Final Thoughts On Carpenter Bees and Bumble Bees
Bumblebees and carpenter bees are very different creatures. The first thing you can tell is that bumblebee abdomens have yellow markings while the abdomen of a carpenter bee has no hair, which makes it shiny. Their flying patterns also vary because while bumblebees fly straighter than the darting-and-diving flight pattern of the carpenter bee.
Irrespective of these differences, ensure that you take the right precautions when you encounter either of them as the consequences are not pleasant in either case. See if you can get rid of carpenter bees with WD40!
Overall I hope this guide on carpenter bee vs bumble bee was helpful to you identifying what type of bees you might be dealing with, and how you can get rid of them!
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