Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Harmful Effects
Icon about
Beneficial Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
Southern carpenter bee

Southern carpenter bee

Xylocopa micans

A species of Large carpenter bees

Xylocopa micans is a non-woven insect from the family of bees and bumblebees (Apidae). The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1841 by Lepeletier.

Toxic to Humans
Toxic to Humans
Does the Southern carpenter bee sting humans?
Human Stinging
General Info About Southern carpenter bee
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of Southern carpenter bee
Adult Food Sources
Nectar, pollen, plant sap, juices from fruits, honeydew
Larva Food Source
Pollinated bread - mixture of pollen and nectar, royal jelly (in some cases)
Biting/stinging
The Southern carpenter bee may bite humans actively. Please stay away from it.
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
The Southern carpenter bee has special defensive behaviors that can trigger an allergic reaction. If there are serious reactions, seek IMMEDIATE medical attention.
Venomous
The Southern carpenter bee can induce toxic reactions varying in severity. Nevertheless, these toxins primarily target their prey and predators and are usually not fatal to humans.
Non-poisonous
Not reported
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
The Southern carpenter bee is often found near the corolla, where its fluffy hairs easily pick up pollen, assisting in the pollination of the plant.
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
The Southern carpenter bee feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.
Predatory
Not reported
Biting animal or pet
Not reported
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Species Status of Southern carpenter bee
It can be found mainly in the coastal and gulf regions of the southeastern United States, as well as Mexico and Guatemala.
Rectangle
Life Cycle of Southern carpenter bee
Egg The egg stage is the beginning of the southern carpenter bee's life cycle. During this stage, the egg is laid in an environment conducive to the development of the larva, often in or near a food source. The egg is minuscule and oval, carrying the potential for the insect's complete metamorphosis.
Larva In the larval stage, the southern carpenter bee exhibits significant growth. This grub-like form primarily focuses on feeding and increasing in size. It lacks the wings and the complex eyesight of adults. Coloration is often subdued, and the larva molts multiple times as it grows.
Pupal The southern carpenter bee enters the pupal stage encased within a cocoon or a chrysalis. This is a transformative phase where the insect is largely immobile and undergoing significant internal changes. It reorganizes into the adult form, and changes in shape and coloration occur.
Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult southern carpenter bee’s development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction. Color and size are now indicative of the species.
Rectangle
Adult Size of Southern carpenter bee
8 - 19 mm
Rectangle
Predators of Southern carpenter bee Larvae
Bee-eater birds, wasps, ants
Rectangle
Predators of Adult Southern carpenter bee
Spiders, birds, praying mantises
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About Southern carpenter bee
The vibrant southern carpenter bee utilizes ultraviolet light patterns on flowers, which are invisible to humans, to identify and distinguish between various plant species.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of Southern carpenter bee
Tips for Finding Southern carpenter bee
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Youth Habitat of Southern carpenter bee
Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
Rectangle
Adult Habitat of Southern carpenter bee
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Deserts and Arid Regions, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Savannas, Mangroves and Coastal Wetlands
Rectangle
When is the Best Time to Observe Southern carpenter bee
The most suitable time to find southern carpenter bee is usually during daylight hours, especially late morning to afternoon, when the temperature is warm and the southern carpenter bee are most active.
Rectangle
What is the Best Weather to Observe Southern carpenter bee
Dry, warm weather without strong winds is the most suitable condition for finding southern carpenter bee, as these are optimal conditions for their activity and flight.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find Southern carpenter bee at Different Life Stages
Larva Southern carpenter bee larvae reside in the nests, which are often tunnels burrowed into wood or plant stems. Find them by identifying nest sites in sunny, sheltered locations and looking for entrance holes in dead wood or pithy stems.
Pupal Pupae of southern carpenter bee are located within the same nests as the larval stages. They can be found inside individual cells which might be constructed from wood chips, plant fibers, or resin. Carefully dissecting a nest could reveal the pupae, but this should be done with great caution to avoid harming the developing southern carpenter bee.
Adult Adult southern carpenter bee can often be found on or near flowers as they forage for nectar and pollen. Sightings are common in gardens, meadows, or anywhere floral resources are abundant. Watching for their distinctive flight patterns and listening for their loud buzzing near flowers can help in locating them.
Are Southern carpenter bee harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free

The southern carpenter bee can cause toxic reactions with a wide range of severity. However, the toxins are typically targeted at their prey and predators. They are usually not fatal to humans.

Rectangle

Are Southern carpenter bee harmful to humans?

Most bees are docile and only sting when they are irritated. The sting needles of bees are sharp and toxic, and people will obviously feel pain after being stung. Some bees may also cause swelling, redness, fever and itching. Some sensitive people may experience more severe symptoms or even death.
Harmful Effects of Southern carpenter bee
Reveal the harmful impacts of diverse insects
Explore the dangers of insects related to toxicity, lethality, human biting, human stinging, pathogenicity, hematophagy, allergenicity, parasitism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Icon toxic for
Toxic to Humans
Icon toxic for
Human Stinging
Rectangle
Toxic to Humans

Southern carpenter bee employs a sting as its primary defense mechanism. The sting can inject neurotoxins capable of causing pain and localized swelling in humans, but its venom is not considered highly toxic. While adverse reactions are generally mild, with symptoms such as redness and itchiness, severe cases may involve extensive swelling or systemic issues. Chronic effects are rare, and no long-term toxicity is typically observed.

Rectangle
Does the Southern carpenter bee sting humans?

Southern carpenter bee females have a stinger for defense but are typically non-aggressive, only stinging when threatened, such as when mishandled. Stings can cause pain and allergic reactions in humans. Males cannot sting. There's no significant detriment to southern carpenter bee post-stinging.

More Effects of Southern carpenter bee

Beneficial Effects of Southern carpenter bee
Discover the hidden benefits of insects
Explore how insects help as pollinators, pest predators, and biocontrol agents. From seed dispersal to decomposition, they play vital roles in our ecosystem.
Download the App for Free
Pollinator
Pollinator
Attract Plant Feature
Color, Shape
Pollination Behavior Reason
Collect Pollen To Feed Offspring
Southern carpenter bee is attracted to the vibrant hues of blue and purple flowers, favoring those with open or shallow structures for easy access. This pollinator collects pollen to nourish its young, inadvertently transferring pollen from bloom to bloom in the process.
Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
More Insects that are Similar to Southern carpenter bee
Tooth-bellied long-horned bee
Tooth-bellied long-horned bee

Melissodes dentiventris is a non-woven insect from the family of bees and bumblebees (Apidae). The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1854 by Smith.

Read More
Arrow
Melissodes desponsa
Melissodes desponsa

Read More
Arrow
Eastern cucurbit bee
Eastern cucurbit bee

The eastern cucurbit bee (Peponapis pruinosa) is a picky eater who sticks with their preferred host plants, which include squash. Males are known to spend most of their time around flowers, even sleeping in them during the night. While it isn't known to be harmful, it still ends up being caught in pesticides intended for other insects.

Read More
Arrow
California cuckoo bee
California cuckoo bee

Xeromelecta californica is a non-woven insect from the family of bees and bumblebees (Apidae). The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1878 by Cresson.

Read More
Arrow
Dilemma Orchid Bee
Dilemma Orchid Bee

The vibrant, metallic sheen of dilemma Orchid Bee glistens in hues of green, and blue as it diligently pollinates a variety of tropical flowers. Known for the males' remarkable ability to collect and store flower scents in specialized hind-leg pouches, these creatures play a crucial role in the ecosystems they frequent, aiding in the successful reproduction of numerous plant species. With their impressive fragrance collection, males create complex olfactory signals to attract mates, demonstrating a sophisticated interplay between flora and fauna.

Read More
Arrow
Eulaema cingulata
Eulaema cingulata

Eulaema cingulata is a fleece-winged insect from the family of bees and bumblebees (Apidae). The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1804 by Fabricius.

Read More
Arrow
Eulaema mocsaryi
Eulaema mocsaryi

The head of Eulaema mocsaryi has a central raised ridge and both head and thorax are clad in short velvety black hairs. The colour of head and thorax is mainly black. The legs are black and hairy and the tibial joints of the hind legs are wide and compressed. The dark-coloured abdomen is densely covered with short tawny-yellowish hairs, becoming paler towards the tip of the abdomen.

Read More
Arrow
Eulaema meriana
Eulaema meriana

Eulaema meriana resembles a bumblebee in appearance and is covered in short dense hairs. At first glance Eulaema bees look like large bumblebee queens. They are relatively large bees with faint metallic colorations. The head of the bee is black, and the thorax brownish black with a large, glossy black scutellum. Their abdomen is black with three transverse pale yellowish bands on the anterior half, and the posterior third is reddish brown. E. meriana also possess membranous wings that are dark at the base and paler at the tips. The legs are black and the tibia of the hind legs are much thicker. Males possess hollows on their hind legs, while females have pollen baskets. In general, the species have long tongues that are thought to be an evolutionary adaptation that favors nectar collection. The large body size is thought to allow the bees to fly in cooler, rainy conditions and continue foraging. It has also been suggested that the larger body size can help them forage for longer distances.

Read More
Arrow
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow