Carpenter bees are the largest bees native to North America. You can spot them by looking for their shiny, black abdomens. This carpenter bee is feasting on the beautiful yellow and pink flowers of the mullein (Verbascum) in bloom in the Terrace Gardens now. Carpenter bees are solitary bees that, as the name suggests, build their nests in wood using their strong jaws. | U.S. Botanic Garden

This “big black bee” is a carpenter bee (Xylocopa) 🖤🐝 🔊 Sound ON… the buzzing is LOUD. It keeps landing for a second then moving again because it’s inspecting the wood for nesting spots (they can tunnel into dead branches). Important pollinator, and usually not aggressive unless handled. #ShroomsOfColombia #ColombiaNature #ColombianWildlife #InsectsOfColombia #Xylocopa CarpenterBee Bee InsectsOfInstagram BugLovers NatureReels WildlifeReels TropicalNature Biodiversity ExploreColombia MedellinN