Japanese Carpenter Bee vs South American Cuckoo Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Carpenter Bee | South American Cuckoo Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xylocopa appendiculata | Exaerete frontalis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Apidae |
| Size | 20-25 mm | 22-28 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Parasites |
| Regions | East Asia, Japan | Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Japanese Carpenter Bee
A large, robust carpenter bee known as 'kumabachi' (bear bee) in Japanese due to its fuzzy appearance. Builds nests by boring tunnels into dead wood. An important pollinator of many plants.
Did You Know?
Despite their intimidating buzz and large size, Japanese carpenter bees are generally docile, and males cannot sting at all.
South American Cuckoo Bee
A large metallic blue-green cleptoparasitic orchid bee that lays its eggs in the nests of other orchid bees. Its mandibles are strong enough to break into sealed brood cells.
Did You Know?
Its larvae first consume the host's food stores, then devour the host bee larva itself before pupating in the stolen nest cell.