Don’t be fooled by their reputation – carpenter bees are one of the most important pollinators in the Garden State.
The common assumption is that these insects are “pests” that will damage property. Yes, they famously drill holes into wood and create tunnels for their nests, and while they rarely impact the structural integrity of wood, their holes can be unsightly and disappointing to discover in your home. But what if we told you that these bees are actually important native pollinators? Let’s nail down some facts about carpenter bees.
Carpenter bees are among North America’s largest native bees and serve as powerful generalist pollinators, buzzing through a wide range of plants. They enhance biodiversity and key crop productivity through “buzz pollination” in crops such as tomatoes, eggplants, and melons. The Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), the largest and most common carpenter bee in New Jersey, plays an important role in pollinating a specific key crop in our state: the blueberry. In 2023, blueberries held the highest production value in New Jersey, generating $92.1 million total. Our state also has over 10,000 acres dedicated to blueberry cultivation, making it the most planted crop in New Jersey.
More About These Bees
Male and female carpenter bees may look similar, but they behave differently. These are solitary bees, which means they don’t live in hives or colonies like honeybees. Males are often the ones you’ll notice first –they like to hover and patrol near nests, and while they might seem a little bold, they’re all buzz and no bite. Females, on the other hand, are the ones doing the heavy lifting. They chew into wood to create tunnels where they lay their eggs, each one tucked in with a little ball of pollen and nectar. While females can sting, they’re usually too busy working to bother anyone and will only sting if they feel seriously threatened.
In addition to the Eastern Carpenter Bee, New Jersey is home to a few smaller carpenter bee species, such as the Spurred Ceratina (Ceratina calcarata), the Doubled Ceratina (Ceratina dupla), and the Nimble Ceratina (Ceratina strenua). These bees are fairly common—although, you may mistake bees in the genus Ceratina for flies or sweat bees if you aren’t carefully looking, as they are small and dark blue in color. These small carpenter bees chew their nest cells in stems, vines, and other wood substrates.
Bee a Good Neighbor
So how do we deter these bees from making their homes in our homes? We simply have to give them alternative options. If we give these bees the habitat they are looking for, they will be less likely to nest in wood decking and furniture. Providing them with alternative sources of wood could prevent them from nesting in or close to your home.
You can make a carpenter bee home, or you can simply leave untreated soft wood in your yard and let the bees do the rest. If you are willing to help the bees out a little bit, blog writer Julie Pramuk gives great instructions on how to make carpenter bee habitat with some wood, a drill, and a sunny day. If you want to give them some habitat and let them do the rest, leave dead logs or brush piles in your yard.
To further support these bees, you can plant native plants such as Verbena hastata (Swamp Verbena), Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed), Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (Narrowleaf Mountain mint). These plants must be close to bee nesting sites and within their flight range (see this “Native Bee Benefits” USDA guide for more information on flight range). By setting aside a safe nesting site and planting native pollinator-friendly flora, you can peacefully coexist with carpenter bees – minimizing wood damage to your home while garnering significant ecological and garden benefits. It’s an easy home improvement with rewards for both you and the bees.
Carpenter bees might not always get the warm welcome they deserve, but with a little understanding, it’s easy to see just how valuable they are. From pollinating important crops to supporting backyard biodiversity, these solitary bees play a big role in the health of our ecosystems. By learning to live alongside them, and even giving them a hand with safe nesting options, we can turn a potential “foe” into a garden friend. So next time you spot a carpenter bee buzzing by, take a closer look. You just might be looking at one of your yard’s hardest-working pollinators.
Check out this article from Rutgers on how to support bees in your garden. For more insight into native plants and to see what would work well in your yard, check out the Jersey-Friendly Yards Plant Database.
