Carpenter Bee or Bumblebee? What’s the Difference?

Carpenter bees can do some serious damage to your home. These large bees look similar, however, to some other species. How do you know if you have wood-damaging carpenter bees or ordinary bumblebees that don’t pose any risk to your home? Here are three things to watch for:

1. Look at the stomach/abdomen: While bumblebees have hairy abdomens with yellow and black bands, the tail end of the carpenter bee is black and smooth. Carpenter bees have shiny bottoms and bumblebees never do.
2. Watch their behavior: Carpenter bees will be hanging around wood, while bumblebees are more interested in the flowers in your yard or garden. Bumblebees are also more aggressive than carpenter bees when it comes to defending their nest.
3. Watch for signs around your house: Carpenter bees are wood borers. Look under the horizontal surfaces of your home for round holes. Look for mysterious piles of sawdust around your home.

Still not sure? We can help you to identify and remove pesky carpenter bees if you have them.