Why Do Carpenter Bees Stare At Me?

Anyone who has spent any amount of time outdoors working in the yard or garden, or relaxing on their deck can attest to the fact that big and bold carpenter bees are out and looking for a fight…or are they?  Male carpenter bees are the ones that are flexing their muscle this spring in New Jersey report Monmouth County exterminators.

Male carpenter bees emerge from their nesting site where they have spent the winter months once the springtime weather warms.  Hungry and ready to mate, the males will spend the majority of their days hopping from flower to flower gorging on natures goodness.  When they are not feeding, the male carpenter bees are claiming, and then defending, a specific territory where a female has begun her springtime nest making duties.

Zooming around from place to place, chasing off other insects, or other male carpenter bee intruders is the main objective of the male carpenter bee.  This  busy work requires many trips to nearby flowers for a quick bite to eat.  The hovering action around humans, or even pets, of the male carpenter bee is his effort to flex his muscle and to investigate the dangers of his surroundings.  The male carpenter bees aggressive behavior is annoying and scary.  The good news is that male carpenter bees do not have a stinger so there is no danger posed to those who encounter this large bee species.  The bad news is, most people are still frightened by the pesky insects.

The female carpenter bee on the other hand does have a stinger, although she will rarely use it unless she feels trapped or threatened.  After the female carpenter bee has the nesting site prepared she will mate with the male carpenter bee and begin to deposit eggs at the nesting site. The male carpenter bee will continue to eat and hoover and it will soon die.