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Did you know that there are more than 20,000 species of bees in the world? It’s no wonder that people get confused between the many different types. In North America, there are around 3600 bee species and I keep getting asked what are the big black bees called?
If you see a big black bee then the chances are that it is a carpenter bee. These are very common in the US but they’re often confused with the bumble bee.
To better help you identify the different species, I’ve put together this guide. Whether it’s a carpenter bee or a bumble bee that you’re seeing, one thing is for sure, you’re looking at an amazing part of nature.
Table of Contents
Do Big Black Bees Sting?
Before we get into what these big black bees are, let’s take a moment to consider whether they are a threat. It’s really sad that so many people are convinced that bees are a foe rather than a friend but in most cases, these are very docile creatures that just want to go about their business without being bothered.
While carpenter bees might look scary, they’re one of the gentlest bee species out there. You’d really have to work hard to get on to sting you and the only reason they’d ever really do that would be if they felt that their nest was under threat.
It’s the males that are responsible for protecting the nest but since they don’t even have a stinger, there’s not much that they can do other than buzz around you, which is annoying but not dangerous. That said, if you are being ‘attacked’ by male carpenter bees, I’d highly recommend backing off for the simple reason that it’s not nice to upset them.
Moreover, if you continue irritating the males, it won’t be long before the females swoop in and they do have a stinger. Again, they’re docile and usually reluctant to sting unless they really have to. However, they’re probably more likely to sting than a honey bee since carpenter bees do not have a barbed sting.
When a honey bee, or any other barbed species, stings, the stinger gets stuck in the victim leaving behind a wound on the bee that is always fatal. However, carpenter bees have a smooth stinger so they can sting time and again.
But again, I’ll reiterate that it’s perfectly possible to live alongside these bees in your garden without ever getting stung. Let them get on with what they’re doing and they’ll leave you alone.
What Do Carpenter Bees Look Like?
When it comes to identifying bee species, it can be difficult as many look very similar. Carpenter bees are nowhere near as hairy as bumblebees so this is one of the easiest ways to tell them apart. Generally speaking, these bees will just have a small patch of hair in the middle of the abdomen. On the lower part of their body, you’ll notice that the bees look a lot more shiny and smooth.
Where coloration is concerned, many carpenter bees are completely black although there are some individuals that will have some yellow/orange markings and this is where they may get confused with bumblebees. However, where bumblebees have these markings all over their bodies, carpenter bees only have them on their heads.
Female carpenter bees have large mandibles so that they can drill into timber and these are located prominently at the front of her head.
How Do Carpenter Bees Behave?
While a lot of bee species live in colonies, carpenter bees are what are known as a solitary bee species. The only time that they’ll really come together is for mating when a male and female will join together to nest.
It is the female that does all the work in building the nest while the male acts as a protector. When the female is finished building the nest, she will lay her eggs inside in a variety of chambers; one for each egg. These chambers are then filled with nectar and the two parent bees will die before the eggs even hatch.
What Do Bumblebees Look Like?
There are actually several species of bumblebee including the buff-tailed bumblebee, the red-tailed bumblebee, and the tree bumblebee. While they all have very similar appearances, I’m going to focus on the garden bumblebee as this is one of the most commonly seen in backyards.
These bees are quite scruffy looking and relatively large. They are black in color with prominent yellow markings in bands across the entire body. However, if you look closely at the tip of the tail, you will notice that this part is white.
Garden bumblebees, as their name suggests, are often found in domestic gardens but they also frequent woodlands and other natural habitats.
How Do Bumblebees Behave?
Bumblebees are much more sociable than carpenter bees and live in colonies under the ground. However, they aren’t as large as honey bee colonies which can have numbers in the tens of thousands. Instead, bumblebees usually live in groups of around 50 individuals.
One of the main reasons that bumblebees choose to nest under the ground is that it prevents them from overheating.
While most bumblebee nests don’t survive over winter, the queen will constantly feed in order to become as fat as possible which allows her to hibernate and survive until spring comes back around. Where honey bee queens rarely leave the nest and certainly don’t work, queen bumblebees spend their days gathering nectar and doing their bit for the survival of the colony.
What Are The Main Differences Between Carpenter Bees And Bumblebees?
It’s really common for people to get carpenter bees and bumblebees confused because they do have a lot of similarities. However, there are also a significant number of differences so just take a closer look and you’ll easily be able to spot these.
For example, carpenter bees have large mandibles that allow them to chomp through wood; no need to wonder how they got their name! When they start drilling, their entire bodies will vibrate and the sound can be so loud that it’s easily audible to humans.
On top of this, you’ll notice that bumblebees are a lot hairier than carpenter bees and their coloration is different. While some carpenter bees may have yellow markings, they’re usually only on the head and not as consistent or distinct as those seen on bumblebees. Moreover, it’s usually only the male carpenter bees that have a yellow mark on their faces.
If you are looking at a bee that is part of a colony then you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s a bumble bee as they’re much more social. On the other hand, carpenter bees are solitary and only come together to mate so they’re frequently seen alone.
Final Thoughts
You’re probably used to seeing a whole host of different bee species in your backyard but there are two that are commonly confused. If you’re wondering what the big black bees are called then you’re probably looking at a carpenter bee. However, they’re similar in appearance to bumblebees so it’s worth learning the differences.
The good news is that, regardless of the species, both of these types of bees are docile and won’t sting you unless they’re provoked.
