Giant Neotropical Carpenter Bee vs Blue Carpenter Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Neotropical Carpenter Bee Blue Carpenter Bee
Scientific Name Xylocopa frontalis Xylocopa caerulea
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Apidae Apidae
Size 25-35 mm 20-23 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Central America Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Giant Neotropical Carpenter Bee

One of the largest bees in the Americas with a robust black body and yellowish thoracic hair. Females bore nesting tunnels into dead wood and timber.

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Did You Know?

It is the most effective natural pollinator of passion fruit, and crop yields decline significantly where it disappears.

Blue Carpenter Bee

A striking large bee with brilliant blue iridescent coloring. Nests in dead wood by boring tunnels. Despite their intimidating size, they are generally docile and rarely sting.

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Did You Know?

The blue carpenter bee is one of the few truly blue bees in the world — its stunning metallic blue coloring comes from structural nanostructures rather than pigment.