Any bee experts??

TNmike

Any bee experts on the forum? My hummingbird feeders have been swarmed by some type of bee. My best guess is some type of bumble bee but much smaller than any bumble bee I'm familiar with. Black with some yellow, small wings, and very fuzzy. Any ideas? Thanks, Mike

Fidel

Looks like some sort of carpenter bees to me - but i'm no expert.

Oblio

Do you have dime sized holes in untreated wood around your house. If so, they are carpenter bees.

jennjuicer

I believe Fidel is correct:

http://doyourownpestcontrol.com/carpenter_bees.htm

TNmike

Fidel and Oblio. I've not had a problem with carpenter bees since we moved to this house a couple of years ago. I did have a huge problem with them at the last place we lived. I'm not saying these aren't carpenters but they are much smaller than the ones I had the problems with before, maybe just young ones?? These guys are pretty docile and not really a problem just curious as to what they might be, there are lots of them!! Thanks, Mike


EDIT!! With the pictures linked in an above post I believe you were both correct. That's them! Thanks, Mike

TNmike

Yep, that's them! These sure are much smaller than the ones I've had to deal with before.

After seeing the pictures I had to edit my post below. Thanks to All. Mike

bitslammer

Carpenter bees are larger and almost devoid of hair on the abdomen tot he point where they look shiny black.

Hard to tell from that photo. One telltale is that male carpenter bees have a distinct yellow patch on their "face" and lack a stinger.

See photo here: http://carpenterbeechamber.org/images/PhotoG7.jpg

Hoss

Gasoline or diesel in the feeder will eliminate them. Just funnin.