How Long Does Carpenter Bees Live

Eggs are laid late spring to early summer in nests drilled out in dead wood.

How long does carpenter bees live. She lives until her colony dies out. Here is the expected life cycle from start to finish. Carpenter bees inhabit every continent but Antarctica and there are approximately 500 species.

Carpenter bees are very active from early spring through summer around houses and other wooden structures. They help farmers immensely by pollinating a wide variety of plants. The male bees die after mating with the female.

These insects earn their name because they bore one-half inch wide holes that appear to be perfectly round on exterior wooden surfaces. Carpenter bees usually live for about one year. Although Carpenter bees tend to nest individually several bees may build nests near each other.

Nests may contain several eggs. Male Bumble Bees Male bumble bees like the worker bees live for a few weeks. Thus if numerous bees are seen around your homes eaves doors windowsills decks shingles etc.

Meanwhile their queen can last longer. Each new generation is hatched in the late summer emerging from nests in August and September to grow and feed pollinating flowers as they go before settling in for the winter and hibernating. Carpenter bees will be seen going in and out of holes in wood from early spring through late summer in colder climates.

The female bee dies not long after laying larvae in the separate chambers of the soft-wood tunnel. Carpenter bees though they may be a nuisance are vital pollinators. Emptying a trap with live carpenter bees can be scary.