Carpenter Bees get their common name from their habit of boring into wood to make galleries for rearing of young.
Adults body length is about 1/2 to 1 inch. Very robust in form resembling Bumble Bees, but with top surface of the abdomen largely bare and shining.
The carpenter Bee is the most common Eastern species and its range extends westward to Kansas and Texas. The males have a yellow face and females have a black face.
These are not social insects and they do not live in colonies or nests. Male Carpenter Bees can be very territorial and become aggressive when humans approach. Males however do not have a stinger so their aggression is mostly just a show. Females have a potent sting, but it is rarely used.