The Carpenter Bee Xylocopa

Carpenter bees are large, hairy and none aggressive. Only the female has a stinger which she will only use if provoked. If she does use it she will die and being a solitary bee there will be no-one to look after her young.

Carpenter Bee

They build their nests by tunnelling in the underside of dead wood to make their chambers, the entrance is perfectly circular. The discarded wood can be used to partition the chambers. They are good pollinators of open flowers. Carpenter bees are now seen in the UK. You can find out more information at the Bee, Wasp & Ants Recording Society.

Violet Carpenter Bees Xylocopa violacaea

The bees in the above photo have been identified as Xylocopa violacaea, Violet Carpenter bees. The easiest way to identify them is too look towards the tip of the antennae on the male and you will see orange segments. I would like to thank Andy who is a member of the Iberian Nature Forum for his identification.