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Bees

Carpenter Bees look like typical bumblebees but often lack yellow stripes. They are solitary bees. Unlike bumble bees, carpenter bees are solitary insects. Female carpenter bees will chew a tunnel into a piece of wood to build a nest gallery. The bits of wood she chews and deposits outside the nest are called frass. The male carpenter bee guards the outside of the nest. He does not have a stinger, but his constant buzzing causes concern for some. Carpenter bees bore through soft woods to lay eggs and protect their larvae as they develop. Carpenter bees do not pose a public health threat, but they can damage wood through their nest building.

Africanized “Killer” Bees look so much like regular honeybees that the only way to tell the two apart is by measuring their bodies. Africanized bees have different wing measurements than honeybees. These bees defend their colony and attack when threatened. Africanized bees have small colonies, so they can build nests in unique places. They have been known to live in tires, crates, boxes, and empty cars. Their venom is no more dangerous than regular honeybees-they just tend to attack in greater numbers, which causes more danger to humans.

Bumble Bees are beneficial insects because they pollinate crops and plants. The occupant of a disturbed bumble bee nest will buzz in a loud volume. They defend their nests aggressively. Bumble bees often nest in the ground, but can be found above ground around patio areas or decks. They will sometimes build their ness in soffits of attics. As part of their aggressive defense of their nests, bumble bees will chase nest invaders for a considerable distance. The bumble bee sting is one of the most painful. Unlike honey bees, bumble bees can sting more than once.

Honey Bees are social insects found all over the world. They are an extremely important beneficial insect because of their role in pollination. Honey bees pollinate more than 100 crops in the U.S. Honey bees are active pollinators, and produce honey which feeds their young in colder months. The honeybee is the only social insect whose colony can survive many years. They store the honey in honeycombs in their nests. They often build their nests in tree crevices, but will occasionally build nests in attics or chimneys. Honeybees do sting, but only once. The sting can be extremely painful if the stinger is not immediately removed from the sting. Persons allergic to insect stings will have a more severe reaction.