Eastern Carpenter Bees

Description:

They don't usually sting and look like "fat" bumblebees. Some have stingers and some don't. They have a black dot that's missing yellow fur in the center of their backs. Y can see the pollen flakes all over the back of the bee. In their journey to the center of the flower where the nectar is stored, the flower also produces pollen. It is transferred from the flower to the fur on the bee backs. The bee carries the pollen amongst the flowers where it's transferred to the next plant. This allows the plant to reproduce with the least amount of energy spent on pollen production.

Habitat:

In my area, some of these bees live in holes they bore in wood, trees, fences, and others live in the clay ground. Based on my research, these are different subspecies. "..the subgenus Proxylocopa, ... nest in the ground." - Wiki Xylocopa virginica is the most common in my area. They love the Lantana, Butterfly weed, and they like just about anything else that flowers. Earlier in the year, they were pollinating the lavender in the yard. There always seems to be more than one of them.

Notes:

Some people consider them pests because they can drill holes in homes. There is no need to spray for them except in the worst infestations. If you have a hole in your home, plug it so animals can't get in. Painted wood is not usually to their liking, so paint your trim and fill the counter-sunk screws with something other than wood putty - which seems to attract them.