Bumble Bee vs Carpenter Bee
Bumble Bees and carpenter bees are easy to mix up at a glance, but a few details separate them quickly. Here is how to tell which one you found and what, if anything, you should do about it.
Quick answer
Check for this first. A bumble bee has plump, fuzzy body covered in dense hair, while a carpenter bee has shiny, hairless black abdomen.
Side-by-side comparison
| Bumble Bee | Carpenter Bee | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps | Bees & Wasps |
| Scientific name | Bombus spp. | Xylocopa virginica |
| Size | 10–25 mm | 18–25 mm |
| Colors | Black and Yellow | Black and Yellow |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | Stings | Stings |
| Risk | Can bite or sting | Nuisance |
| Key feature | Plump, fuzzy body covered in dense hair | Shiny, hairless black abdomen |
Key differences
- Risk: the bumble bee can bite or sting, usually with mild, local effects, while the carpenter bee is a nuisance pest but not a health threat to most people.
- Where found: look for bumble bees in gardens and on plants; carpenter bees turn up indoors and in gardens and on plants.
- Signature feature: Bumble Bees: plump, fuzzy body covered in dense hair. Carpenter Bees: shiny, hairless black abdomen.
How to identify bumble bees
A large, round, very hairy bee with black and yellow bands. It nests in the ground or old rodent burrows and pollinates tomatoes, blueberries and wildflowers.
- Plump, fuzzy body covered in dense hair
- Black and yellow, sometimes orange, bands
- Loud, low buzz and slow flight between flowers
How to identify carpenter bees
A large bee that bores perfectly round holes into bare wood on decks, eaves and fences. Males hover aggressively near nests but cannot sting.
- Shiny, hairless black abdomen
- Fuzzy yellow thorax
- Round, half-inch holes in wood with sawdust below
Which one is more dangerous?
The bumble bee carries more risk. Bumble bees are gentle but can sting more than once if their nest is disturbed.
Bumble bees are gentle but can sting more than once if their nest is disturbed. Females can sting but rarely do; repeated nesting weakens wood and attracts woodpeckers.
Where and when you'll see each
Bumble Bees turn up in gardens and on plants, mostly in spring, summer and fall. Carpenter Bees turn up indoors and in gardens and on plants, mostly in spring and summer.
Because they share habitat, you may find both in the same place, so check each individual.
What to do if you find one
Bumble Bees: no control is needed. Bumble bees are gentle but can sting more than once if their nest is disturbed.
Carpenter Bees: Paint or stain exposed wood, since the bees prefer bare surfaces. Read the full removal guide for more.
Biology: bees & wasps
Bees and wasps belong to the same order as ants. Social species such as honey bees, bumble bees, yellowjackets and hornets live in colonies with a queen, while solitary species such as mud daubers and cicada killers raise their young alone. Only females can sting, because the stinger is a modified egg-laying tube.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between bumble bees and carpenter bees?
Risk: the bumble bee can bite or sting, usually with mild, local effects, while the carpenter bee is a nuisance pest but not a health threat to most people.
Which is bigger, a bumble bee or a carpenter bee?
Bumble Bee: 10–25 mm. Carpenter Bee: 18–25 mm.
Do bumble bees or carpenter bees bite?
Bumble Bees do not bite and can sting. Carpenter Bees do not bite and can sting.
Where are they usually found?
Bumble Bees: in gardens and on plants. Carpenter Bees: indoors and in gardens and on plants.