Large Scale Central

What was this?

Gardening
#1

Saw something interesting while working on the layout this morning. A huge black insect came buzzing around the hardwood handle of my shovel, then landed on it and proceded to chew a sizeable hole in it. It looked like maybe some kind of bumblebee, but it was smooth and shiny, even a bit irridescent. What kind of big, shiny black bee eats wood?? Whatever it was, it must have really powerful jaws.

#2

Sounds like a sign to stop working! :wink:

#3

If it was a big shiny waspy/bee looking thing, it might have been a bald faced hornet. They use wood pulp for nests. They’re always chewing on my wooden tool handles.
If it was a big shiny beetle looking thingy, it might be a click beetle.
jb

#4

I did a little searching on google and I think it must have been some type of carpenter bee. Most of them have hair on the midsection, but there are some that are nearly hairless like the one I saw. Here’s one link to some pics that look similar to the bee I saw:

http://www.friendsofsaguaro.org/bee-carpenter.html

#5

I think I would bite the handle of the shovel if I saw one like that .
Mike

#6

A “Buffalo Bug,” 'cause it has you buffalowed!

#7

Borer bees do this. They leave holes about 1/2 inch in diameter, occasionally several inches deep!

http://www.economypest.com/carpenter_bees.htm

#8
Matthew (OV) said:
Borer bees do this. They leave holes about 1/2 inch in diameter, occasionally several inches deep!

http://www.economypest.com/carpenter_bees.htm


Yup, that’s them! Used to tear up my fascia boards on my porch till I had it redone with aluminum and vinyl siding.

#9

We have them here in north georgia also. Neighbor like to swat them with a tennis racquet, see how many he can bag in an afternoon…:slight_smile:

#10

I’m glad I’m up here and only have next door neigbours and squrrells…

#11

Ray, don’t send that bug up to Carlsbad! We don’t need any more holes!

Greg

#12

If you were using the tool the bug wouldn’t have landed on it in the first place.
But I think it was a bahfoone bug.

Ray Dunakin said:
Saw something interesting while working on the layout this morning. A huge black insect came buzzing around the hardwood handle of my shovel, then landed on it and proceded to chew a sizeable hole in it. It looked like maybe some kind of bumblebee, but it was smooth and shiny, even a bit irridescent. What kind of big, shiny black bee eats wood?? Whatever it was, it must have really powerful jaws.
#13

Ray,

I know this may be a little late, your bee is a X. tabaniformis orpifex, or Carpenter Bee!