Carpenter bees are species in the genus Xylocopa of the subfamily Xylocopinae. The genus includes some 500 bees in 31 subgenera. The common name "carpenter bee" derives from their nesting behavior; nearly all species burrow into hard plant material such as dead wood or bamboo. The main exceptions are species in the subgenus Proxylocopa; they dig nesting tunnels in suitable soil.
Xylocopa violacea, the violet carpenter bee, is the common European species of carpenter bee, and one of the largest bees in Europe. It is also native to Asia.
Xylocopa sonorina, the valley carpenter bee or Hawaiian carpenter bee, is a species of carpenter bee found from western Texas to northern California, and the eastern Pacific islands. Females are black while males are golden-brown with green eyes.
The California carpenter bee, Xylocopa californica, is a species of carpenter bee in the order Hymenoptera. It is native to western North America.
Xylocopa latipes, the tropical carpenter bee, is a species of carpenter bee widely dispersed throughout Southeast Asia. As its name suggests, this bee inhabits forests in warm tropical climates and constructs nests by burrowing into wood. It often makes long deep tunnels in wooden rafters, fallen trees, telephone poles and the like, but is not found in living trees.
Xylocopa caffra is a species of Afrotropical carpenter bee that ranges from west to central and southern Africa, besides Madagascar and some Indian Ocean archipelagos.
Xylocopa caerulea, the blue carpenter bee, is a species of carpenter bee.
Xylocopa amethystina, or Xylocopa (Nodula) amethystina, is a species of carpenter bee. It is distributed in South Asian countries such as, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Xylocopa auripennis, or Xylocopa (Biluna) auripennis, is a species of carpenter bee. It is widely distributed in South Asian countries, and Southeast Asian countries.
Xylocopa bryorum, or Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) bryorum, is a species of carpenter bee. It is distributed in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand.
Xylocopa dejeanii, or Xylocopa (Zonohirsuta) dejeanii, is a species of carpenter bee. It is widely distributed in Asian countries.
Xylocopa fenestrata, or Xylocopa (Ctenoxylocopa) fenestrata, is a species of carpenter bee. It is widely distributed in Asian countries and very few African countries such as Madagascar and Seychelles. It is considered as a pest of timber and bamboo, but is also a valuable pollinator.
The Oriental carpenter bee, Xylocopa nasalis, or Xylocopa (Biluna) nasalis, is a species of carpenter bee. It is widely distributed in Southeast Asian countries. It is a major pollinator within its ecosystem, and is often mistaken for a bumblebee. The species leads a solitary lifestyle with a highly female-biased colony in the nest.
Xylocopa nigrocaerulea, or Xylocopa (Biluna) nigrocaerulea, is a species of carpenter bee.
Xylocopa ruficornis, or Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) ruficornis, is a species of carpenter bee. It is found in the Sri Lankan.
Xylocopa tenuiscapa, or Xylocopa (Platynopoda) tenuiscapa, is a species of carpenter bee. It is found only in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
Xylocopa tranquebarica, or Xylocopa (Nyctomelitta) tranquibarica, is a species of carpenter bee. It is found only in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. It is a nocturnal bee.
Xylocopa darwini, the Galápagos carpenter bee, is the only native species of bee in the Galápagos Islands, to which it is endemic. Altogether, only three species of bee are found in the islands. This species found on 75% of the largest islands. It is sexually dimorphic and is known for its complex behavior. As the only native bee, Xylocopa darwini serves as an important primary pollinator within the plant-pollinator network of the archipelago.
Xylocopa sulcatipes is a large Arabian carpenter bee. These multivoltine bees take part in social nesting and cooperative nesting. They are metasocial carpenter bees that nest in thin dead branches. One or more cooperating females build many brood cells. They have been extensively studied in Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Xylocopa pubescens is a species of large carpenter bee. Females form nests by excavation with their mandibles, often in dead or soft wood. X. pubescens is commonly found in areas extending from India to Northeast and West Africa. It must reside in these warm climates because it requires a minimum ambient temperature of 18 degrees Celsius in order to forage.
