Large Shaggy Bee vs Tropical Carpenter Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Shaggy Bee Tropical Carpenter Bee
Scientific Name Panurgus banksianus Xylocopa latipes
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Melittidae Apidae
Size 10-13 mm 25-35 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Underground
Diet Pollen Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Europe South Asia, Southeast Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Large Shaggy Bee

A densely hairy black bee that specializes on composite flowers, particularly hawkbits and dandelions. Males have distinctively swollen, lemon-yellow faces.

💡

Did You Know?

Males' bright yellow face patches are thought to mimic the yellow disc florets of the composites they frequent, possibly to ambush females visiting flowers.

Tropical Carpenter Bee

One of the largest bee species in Asia with jet-black coloring and broad wings. They produce a loud buzzing flight sound and bore into bamboo and dead timber.

💡

Did You Know?

Their enormous size and loud buzz often cause alarm, but they are generally docile and rarely sting.