Black Flying Wood Burrowing Bug

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chiques Oxnard, CA Aug 18, 2009

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone can tell me what kind of bug this is? I live in Southern California about 5 miles from the beach. These bugs seem to have colonized in a few pieces of old firewood I have in my back yard. They make tunnels in the wood and live inside of them. I was trimming a tree right above the colony and a fairly large branch landed on the pieces of wood where they live. I assume this one was foresting because it came out of nowhere and got hostile with me when it couldn't get to its piece of wood. Unfortunately for it, I had to show it who's house it was with my leaf rake.

Are these things dangerous? Can I leave them or do I need to break out the WD-40 and my Zippo? I appreciate any insight.

This message was edited Aug 18, 2009 2:20 PM

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chiques Oxnard, CA Aug 18, 2009

OK, I think I found it.

I think its a carpenter bee.

I read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpenter_bee and in toward the end of the Characteristics section, it says "However, males are harmless since they do not have a stinger[3]. Female bees do have a stinger, but are not aggressive, and will not sting unless directly provoked."

So is dropping a branch the size of a small truck on their tunneled piece of wood "provoking"?

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Aug 18, 2009

This looks like a carpenter bee.They burrow into unprotected (not painted or pressure treated) wood. They only become aggressive when you mishandle them, or try to block them from their burrow. If you have unpainted wood exposed on your home, they can become a problem, otherwise they just hang out in dead wood. I do not think they attack live wood.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2074.html


YES, it is

This message was edited Aug 18, 2009 5:50 PM

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Lotsalilys Maple Heights, OH Aug 18, 2009

With the lack of honey bees now because of the mites, that bee should be considered a benificial because it is a pollinator. Work around them and learn to live with them.

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Aug 20, 2009

this is a carpenter bee.

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