Mon, 04 May 2026 06:00:38 +0000

Woodworking Bees: Understanding the Boring Bours of Your Garden and How to Coexist with Them If you’ve ever stumbled upon a perfectly round hole drilled into a tree trunk—tiny, smooth, and perfectly round—chance is you’ve encountered a woodworking bee. These remarkable insects, often mistaken for carpenter bees but distinct in behavior and ecology, are both fascinating and vital members of our natural ecosystems. If you’re a gardener, arborist, or outdoor enthusiast, learning about woodworking bees can enhance your appreciation for nature and help you manage their presence in a balanced, eco-friendly way. ### What Are Woodworking Bees? Woodworking bees (genus Campe· HA) are solitary, native bees known for their unique nesting behavior. Unlike carpenters, woodworking bees don’t consume wood—they simply drill shallow, tunneled holes into dead or decaying wood to lay their eggs. These holes, typically 1/4 to 3/4 inch in diameter, are beautifully round and can appear in fences, wooden decks, sheds, and even old tree stumps.