page_title: Eastern carpenter bee
section_title: Description and identification
hierarchical_section_title: Eastern carpenter bee / Description and identification
context_page_description: Xylocopa virginica, more commonly known as the eastern carpenter bee, extends through the eastern United States and into Canada. They nest in various types of wood and eat pollen and nectar. The eastern carpenter bee is similar to most other bee species in that it does not have a queen; in Xylocopa virginica, females are responsible for reproduction, foraging, and nest construction, though they may sometimes have help from their daughters. Xylocopa virginica is sympatric with Xylocopa micans in the southeastern United States.
context_section_description: The bee is similar in size to bumblebees, but has a glossy, mostly black body with a slight metallic purple tint. X. virginica males and females have generally the same mass, but can be differentiated visually by the male's longer body and the female's wider head. The males also have a white spot on their face. Additionally, the males have larger thoracic volumes for given masses.  Females of different social standing can also be told apart based on morphology. Primary females are larger than secondary or tertiary females, and also have more mandibular and wing wear.
  X. virginica have distinctive maxillae that are adapted to performing perforations on corolla tubes to reach nectaries.  Their maxillae are sharp and wedge-shaped, allowing them to split the side of corolla tubes externally to access the nectar.  Eastern carpenter bees also have galae on their maxillae that are shaped like large, flat blades.  Bees with sharp galae can use these to further aid in penetrating the corolla tubes.
caption: Female X. virginica
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