Stop! Thief! Carpenter Bees are Notorious Nectar Robbers | Deep Look

With their short tongues, Valley carpenter bees can't easily drink the nectar from tubular flowers. So they use powerful mandibles to slice into the blooms and steal it. It's called nectar robbing, since the plants don't get the benefit of being pollinated by these enormous, fuzzy bees.

DEEP LOOK is a ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.

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On a warm spring day in California’s Central Valley, a super fuzzy golden bee almost the size of your thumb flies in tight circles over red and white Hot lips salvia flowers. You’re witnessing the fitness display of the largest bee in the Western United States – the Valley carpenter bee (Xylocopa sonorina).

The bright golden males of this species release a pheromone as they circle around a focal point, mimicking floral odors. Researchers think that they are using the perfume-y scent to attract foraging female bees. They hope that the all-black, shiny female bees will be impressed by their dizzying acrobatic displays, and decide to choose them as a mate. These striking males are colloquially referred to as "Teddy bear bees."

Many flowering plants in California’s Central Valley produce tubular flowers which are hard to access with the bees' short tongue. Valley carpenter bees, like other types of carpenter bees, don’t have the long tongues that other local pollinators may have (like some moths, butterflies, or hummingbirds). So instead of extending their tongues down a flower to reach nectar (and in the process pick up pollen at the front of the flower), these bees steal the nectar through a backdoor. They use their powerful mandibles to bite a hole at the base of the flower and sip nectar from the side of the puncture, thus bypassing pollination. Researchers call this “nectar robbing.”

---+ Why do carpenter bees eat wood?

Carpenter bees are named for their ability to construct nests in wood – typically logs or human-made wooden structures. The bee nests are made of tunnels about ½ inch in diameter and 6 to 10 inches deep. The tunnels in a bee nest lead to several chambers, where the bees raise their young, as well as hibernate during colder months. In parts of the US, especially the Eastern US, carpenter bees are considered pests.

---+ How do carpenter bees drill holes?

The female bees use their powerful mandibles to tunnel into dead wood… like logs, or tree trunks. Mama bees then lay their eggs and provide food for the developing offspring in these chambers.

The bees may return to the same nest for generations, expanding and renovating year after year.
Carpenter bees don’t have a queen, and they aren’t as social as honeybees, but several bees may room together in a nest.

---+ Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science:

---+ More Great Deep Look episodes:

Watch This Bee Build Her Bee-jeweled Nest

This Bee Builds Sandcastles at the Beach

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[reionj]

We can learn a few things from these highly skilled carpenter bees, they are so small and can do such great things. At least their secret lives of crime benefit us and the ecosystem in some ways, it's not all bad. Thanks deeplook.💯❤👍🏻

[jinx_bug]

this takes "we have come for your nectar" to a whole new level

[Snipethebambi]

I cannot get over how informative and beautiful these episodes always are ! I love how intricate every bee species seems to be whether they live in colonies or not. Thank you for the amazing content .

[diamondwolf]

I see these bees a lot at my house, when the flowers are blooming. I always wondered why they stabbed the flower like that. I used to think they were bumble bees, not carpenter bees! Thanks for the informative episode Deep Look! I always love the amazing macro shots you guys can get.

[citronquartz]

this is why asteraecae (sunflower, goldenrod, etc.) flowers are so good for bees who don't have long tongues. they have open faces so it's easier to get the nectar. if you're trying to attract lots of different bees, make sure you have a variety of flower shapes!

[violentdreams]

Teddy bear bee is actually one of the cutest names for an insect I have ever heard.

[virg_lemnade]

oh man, this close-up footage is so beautifully shot, as always ❤️ thanks Deep Look!

[monsterdream]

This take "we have come for your nectar" to another level.

[mohammedyaser]

Teddy bear bees are adorable 😍😍
Thank you so much for adding me in the video description! And btw you're so close to 2 million subs 🎉🎉

Edit: hey mom look i'm famous

[terramater]

So interesting! It's impressive to see how smart and creative bees can be. Our crew documented a honeybee colony being attacked by a huge hornet, and, despite their size, they still managed to defeat it! Bees are definitely incredible!

[jamiekim]

I’ve always thought that holes that carpenter bees make were so fascinating. Thanks for telling me even more about them. Keep up the good work

[TragoudistrosMPH]

Seeing all the local bees, and those close ups of their mandibles is so appreciated!
Interesting to learn about their controversially clever lifestyle!

[virg_lemnade]

i love that the official term for it is "nectar robbing" hahaha, so cute.

[obidean]

We can all agree that teddy bear bee is perfect name for it

[ogreenius]

I love the way the male bee's tiny feet vibrate as he hovers. Eeee! So cute. 🥰

[hopflyisme]

I really appreciate this video highlighting a bee that visits my flowering bushes. This could have been recorded in my front yard as I saw pictures of the same bush species. Thanks Deep Look!

[fishnuggets]

I am so interested in all the different and unique types of bees

[Demetrius]

Why do people consider insects disgusting? They are beautiful!

[simantakalita]

The narrator's voice is beautiful as always. Props to the editors for the cuts.

[peelzboyplays]

This was a fascinating and insightful episode on some of the larger bees in our world! Thank you, Deep Look ☺️