Carpenter Bees

3/4 - 1 inch long.
Female faces are black, male faces are yellow.
Bright yellow, orange or white hairs on the thorax.
No hair on abdomen.
Females have a stinger, males do not.
Lifecycle
Tunnel into wood to lay eggs.
Life cycle from egg – larva – pupa - adult takes approximately seven weeks.
Larva is large and noisy.
New adults emerge from the nest late August.
Habits
Sting - Only sting if provoked.
Visibility - Late-spring to mid-October.
Nesting - Bare, untreated softwoods are preferred, including redwood, cedar, cypress and pine. Old nests are used year after year.
Location – Nests can be found in eaves, window trims, facia boards, siding, decks and outdoor furniture.
Feeding - flowers that contain pollen, eg Bradfords, Daffodils, Pansies. Pollen stored in abandoned tunnels for overwintering.