Hobbies And Interests
Abdomens
The most notable physical difference between carpenter bees and bumblebees is the color of their abdomens. This is the "tail" of a bee and is the part that contains a stinger in female bees. Male bees or drones of both species lack stingers. Carpenter bee abdomens are colored all black because it is not partially covered in fuzz-like hair. The black abdomens may appear shiny in sunlight. In contrast, bumblebees have yellow and black abdomens. The abdomens are not shiny because they are covered in hair.
Heads
Both types of bees have mostly black heads and two long black antennae. Carpenter bees have larger heads and more prominent eyes than bumblebees. In profile, the bumble bee seems to have its head curved down more towards its abdomen while the carpenter bee's head is more upright. Bumblebees also have fuzzy yellow patches in between the eyes and the mouthparts. It is difficult to see this difference while the bees are still alive.
Nesting Sites
If wary about checking the physical differences between live bees, seeing where the bees nest can determine what type of bee it is. Bumblebees nest on the ground under leaves or in lawns. But carpenter bees nest in wooden structures such as trees, docks, fencing or parts of houses such as shingles. Carpenter bees prefer unpainted wood to make their nests, according to the North Carolina State University Extension. Bees enter these structures by biting out round, half-inch holes with their jaws.
Life Spans
Bumblebees only live an average of less than one year, dying off when winter arrives. Workers die as soon as three months after emerging from their eggs. The only exceptions are queen bumblebees, which can survive the winter but rarely live longer than five years, depending on the species. Carpenter bees, including workers, drones and queens, can hibernate through the winter in their wooden nests. Carpenter bees awake from hibernation on warm spring days.