carpenter bee

noun

1. any of several solitary bees of the family Apidae that nest in solid wood, boring tunnels in which to deposit their eggs.

carpenter bee

noun

1. any large solitary bee of the genus Xylocopa and related genera that lays its eggs in tunnels bored into wood or in plant stems: family Apidae

Word History and Origins

Origin of carpenter bee¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

In September a different study published in the journal Communications Biology revealed that carpenter bee mothers spend an unusually large amount of time with their offspring because it helps them ward off potentially deadly diseases.

From Salon

It's known as a carpenter bee because they typically nest in wood.

From Salon

Bumblebees typically nest in colonies in the ground and sting if someone comes near the nest, while carpenter bees nest alone in wood and rarely sting.

From Washington Post

Honey bees have a reputation for working hard, but carpenter bees and other bee species that don’t live in colonies might be even more industrious.

From Science Magazine

There are several tunneled beehouses, designed to attract native solitary bees, such as carpenter bees, and offer them rest after imbibing nearby nectar.

From New York Times