Will they visit?: Carpenter Bees frequently visit home gardens
Natural Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the South West and Perth region
Xylocopa – (C) Kit Prendergast
Xylocopa – (C)Kit Prendergast
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Small holes in trees, shrubs, and logs
Diet: Nectar and pollen
Water: Shallow bird baths
ReWild Benefit: Pollination
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Carpenter Bees are solitary and build their nest by gnawing a hole into the soft wood of trees and shrubs. Some species will create ‘hives’ of different females inside the holes of trees and shrubs where the young remain sheltered and are fed by the adults.
Novel Shelter
Carpenter Bees aren’t known to use bee hotels (or there is little evidence of this). Often, Carpenter Bees will bore into pieces of soft wood including untreated pine.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Carpenter Bees feed from a wide diversity of native flowering plants. Banksia, grevillea, hakea, hibbertia, and flowering annuals are popular. Plant a diverse garden to provide a large range of foraging habitat.
Avoid commercial non-native seeds advertised for bee gardens. These plants may not be suitable for native bees and have the potential to become serious weeds.
Providing sources of water
Carpenter Bees will visit bird baths and ponds for a drink. Bees run the risk of drowning if they fall into a bird bath or pond. Placing partially submerged rocks or sticks will provide an avenue for a bee to safely leave the water.
ReWild Benefits
Carpenter are not aggressive, but will sting if handled. Native bees are critical in sustaining local biodiversity as they can pollinate a greater variety of native plants compared to honeybees. If you see this busy bee in your backyard, you can record your sighting on the Atlas of Living Australia.
