Big black bee: a description of the xylocopa, the benefits and harms of a carpenter, how to get rid of

Many people think of bees as ordinary yellow insects covered with black stripes. However, in nature there are many other varieties of such individuals. One of them is considered a large black bee. She is also called a carpenter or xylokopa. This type of insect is found in nature only in the wild. To this day, people have not been able to tame them. At the same time, there are up to 700 species of such bees.

Description of appearance and characteristic features

This bee is rather large. In length, it is 2-2.5 centimeters.The head and body of such individuals are characterized by a rich black color and are covered with sparse villi. The wings are distinguished by a dark blue or blue bloom. The top of the antennae is black, and the bottom is red.

Sometimes the insect is called a black bumblebee or a hornet. This is due to the fact that when moving it emits a strong hum. These individuals live in the Crimean mountains, in the Caucasus, in Stavropol. These insects are characterized by the following distinctive features:

• large head size and powerful jaw;
• shaggy paws - with their help, insects can collect a lot of pollen;
• painful bites;
• the ability to make a partition in bee nests - this allows for laying;
• an independent process of breeding larvae.

Insect lifestyle

The carpenter bee, or xylocop, is a social insect. These individuals form small colonies. For life, they choose the outskirts of forests and cities. Insects prefer to settle in old trees, rock cracks, pillars. Sometimes they are found in ready-made rodent burrows. In nature, carpenters are found from May to September.

The males of these bees are highly active. Each of them has a small territory and 3-5 females, which must be carefully protected from competitors.

Habitats

Carpenter bees with blue wings live in the center and west of Europe, in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine.

They are also found in the Mediterranean, in southern Russia, in Central Asia.

What eats

Xylocops feed on the nectar of over 60 flowering crops. Moreover, this category includes not only herbaceous plants, but also trees, as well as shrubs. Carpenters love the acacia tree the most.

Reproduction

Female bees create a separate home by tunneling through dry wood.

To do this, carpenters use strong chewing jaws. During breeding, males fly around their territory and drive away possible rivals. For defensive purposes, drones use hills. This makes it easier to control the area. At this time, the females fly higher during the flight to meet the male.

At the bottom of the tunnel made of wood, the bees lay a nutrient mass, which consists of pollen and nectar. It is in it that the females subsequently lay their eggs.The larvae that emerge from them consume these reserves to the adult stage. Right above the egg, the female makes a partition. It consists of sawdust and small particles that stick together with saliva.

Each cell is used for one egg. At the same time, a new cell is built on top. Thanks to this, the bees make a real multi-story structure. The nest of a bee remains until the middle of autumn. All this time it is under protection. After that, the bee dies.

The larva becomes a chrysalis at the end of summer. Young individuals remain in their dwelling for the winter. They make their first flight only in the spring. It is during this period that young black bees with blue wings are found. They start making new nests at the end of May.

Benefits and harms

Carpenter bees collect pollen and effectively pollinate plants, because they have a thick layer of hairs on their legs. If an insect settles near a human dwelling, it can bring great harm. These individuals are capable of severe damage to trees and furniture.

What to do after being bitten

Carpenters rarely show aggression towards people. If you do not try to destroy insects, they are very peaceful in nature. If you try to catch a bee, it can bite, and it hurts quite a lot. In this case, the sting remains in the human body.

It is important to consider that tree bees have not only painful, but also very poisonous bites. If a person is he althy and not too sensitive, swelling will simply appear in the bite area. However, it is worth noting that carpenter's poison can depress the human nervous system. Therefore, its common side effect is nervous shock. A bite in the throat can even be fatal.

To prevent negative consequences, you should immediately get a stinger. At the same time, it is important to try not to crush it. Then you need to do the following:

• squeeze the poison out of the wound;
• apply a solution of ammonia and water to the bite site, mixing the components in a ratio of 1:5;
• bandage the affected area.

If ammonia is not at hand, it is worth applying s alt to the wound. It needs to be mixed with water to get the consistency of gruel. This will help minimize swelling, manage pain, and reduce allergy symptoms.

It is also acceptable to use dandelion juice for carpenter bee stings. To do this, it is recommended to remove the sting and pour plenty of water on the wound with this substance.

How to get rid of them

To find carpenter bees in your area, it is important to consider the following:

• Insects choose dry softwood for life.
• Painted or finished surfaces do not attract carpenters. They prefer to build their nests in natural materials.
• Maximum activity of insects is observed in spring. It is at this time that young individuals are looking for a place to live.

If you managed to find the moves of the carpenter bee, you can use the following tools to get rid of pests:

• insecticides, gasoline or plain water;
• sealants, glue or steel shavings - these substances are used to putty moves;
• citrus essential oils.

Black carpenter bees are considered fairly common insects. They settle in wood and can bring great harm to people. Therefore, it is important to know how to deal with these bees.

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