You’re probably seeing a male carpenter bee. Males hang around in the spring looking for females who are foraging for food and a good nest site. Male carpenter bees cannot sting so if it’s one you’re seeing, there isn’t any real danger. You can tell a male carpenter bee because they will have a yellow face. Other differences are listed in our Carpenter Bee Control Article.

I suggest you do a thorough inspection around the property to see if you have any females nesting or attempting to make a nest. Females will drill holes in wood where they will lay eggs and live. These holes can do quite a bit of damage so be on the look out for any that might be happening to something of value. If you find some nests, treat as we explain in our carpenter bee article to keep the damage minimized.

You’ve got a carpenter bee or two which become very active in the spring. These bees are quite large and resemble a bumble bee. The males commonly do what you’re describing and though they’ll fly at you when you move close, they can’t sting since they don’t have a stinger! Females do have stingers so stay away from any that are in the flowers or in a nest. Carpenter bee nests will be found in wood, usually on the bottom side (the side facing the ground) and their holes will bore for several feet into wood if left untreated. Since they can cause a lot of damage, it’s best to kill off nesting ones now using the DRIONE and spray with some CYPERMETHRIN to stop new ones from creating a nest. More information about this process can be found on line in our carpenter bee control article.