The Valley Carpenter Bee is the largest bee in California, with females entirely black and fuzzy and males strikingly golden-tan — so different they were described as separate species for years. Males patrol territories aggressively but are completely harmless as they lack stingers. Females bore into soft wood and eucalyptus to construct nest galleries.
Habitat
Gardens, orchards, and suburban areas with wooden structures in California
Diet
Adults: pollen and nectar. Larvae: pollen provisions
How common
Common
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