Eastern carpenter bee
Xylocopa virginica
Bee
Large solitary bee that nests in dead wood (including, sometimes, deck timbers). Important pollinator for tubular flowers; occasionally engages in nectar-robbing on long-spurred flowers like wild columbine, slicing the spur from the side rather than entering the flower legitimately.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
0 essential relationships / 5 supporting plants
Host/specialist links: 0
Forage/pollination links: 5
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 2
Butterfly weed
Supporting / Plants this species pollinates
Common milkweed
Supporting / Plants this species pollinates
Maypop (purple passionflower)
Supporting / Plants this species pollinates
The eastern carpenter bee is the primary pollinator of purple passionflower: the flower's anthers and stigmas sit on a raised central column at carpenter-bee height, so the bee transfers pollen as it forages. Other insects visit the nectar but contribute little pollination.
Wild columbine
Supporting / Nectar plants
Carpenter bees sometimes nectar-rob the long spurs by slicing the spur tip from the side, bypassing the flower mechanism without effecting pollination.
Chinese wisteria
Supporting / Nectar plants
Large carpenter bees visit and can rob the deep flowers; like the other bee visitors this is incidental foraging rather than evidence of strong habitat value.
Plants in the catalog
Plants this species pollinates · 5
The eastern carpenter bee is the primary pollinator of purple passionflower: the flower's anthers and stigmas sit on a raised central column at carpenter-bee height, so the bee transfers pollen as it forages. Other insects visit the nectar but contribute little pollination.
The flower's anthers and stigmas sit on a raised central column at large-carpenter-bee height, the same structure that makes carpenter bees (Xylocopa) the effective pollinators of passionflowers; on this neotropical species the documented carpenter-bee pollinators are large Xylocopa, with the eastern carpenter bee a plausible visitor where their ranges meet.
Large carpenter bees are principal pollinators of pomegranate flowers, working the showy orange-red blooms for nectar and pollen and improving fruit set over self-pollination alone.
Nectar plants · 3
Large carpenter bees visit and can rob the deep flowers; like the other bee visitors this is incidental foraging rather than evidence of strong habitat value.
Large carpenter bees are strong enough to work the substantial canna flowers for nectar.
Carpenter bees sometimes nectar-rob the long spurs by slicing the spur tip from the side, bypassing the flower mechanism without effecting pollination.
Pollen plants · 1
Large carpenter bees are strong enough to work the big open hibiscus flowers and gather pollen from the prominent staminal column; mapped as plausible for this non-native tropical.
Range
Eastern United States, from New York and the Great Lakes south to Florida and Texas.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/xylocopa-virginica
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
Wikipedia: Eastern carpenter bee
Corroborating reference for Xylocopa virginica taxonomy, eastern North American range, wood nesting, nectar/pollen feeding, and nectar-robbing behavior.
Penn State Extension: Carpenter bees
Extension profile for carpenter-bee nesting in wood and garden/building context.
GBIF: Xylocopa virginica
GBIF backbone key 1342324 is an EXACT accepted match for Xylocopa virginica in family Apidae.
iNaturalist: Xylocopa virginica
iNaturalist active taxon 51110 is Xylocopa virginica, the eastern carpenter bee.