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Bees, bumblebees and other insects can be seen searching for food throughout the summer. Again and again there is a large black bumblebee buzzing loudly and menacingly. Is she poisonous?
In a nutshell
- the black bumblebee is actually a wild bee, the blue carpenter bee
- the blue carpenter bee is very peaceful and not aggressive towards humans
- Carpenter bee venom is just as toxic as honey bee venom
The black bumblebee - a wild bee
Big, loud and dark, this eye-catching animal is quickly labeled as a black bumblebee. However, you are doing the animal an injustice. Because in truth, the creature is Xylocopa violacea - the blue carpenter bee. Indeed, this largest of all native wild bee species has remarkable characteristics:
- Body size around 25 to 28 millimeters
- Broad, stocky build
- Shiny metallic black chitin armor
- Comparatively dense, black hair on body and legs
- Blue to violet iridescent wings
- Very loud hum in flight
Notice: The humming of the carpenter bee - like that of all other insects - is caused by the extremely fast flapping of the wings, which causes the body to vibrate. The carpenter bee buzzes particularly loudly because its large body generates a particularly good resonance.
Toxic or not?
The question of whether the blue carpenter bee is poisonous can be answered with a certain qualification with a clear no. This no must be restricted to the fact that the animal definitely has a sting. It is also able to pierce human skin and inject a defensive secretion.
However, the toxin it contains is no more or less dangerous than honey bee venom. In addition, the carpenter bee is very peaceful and shy. She avoids people as much as possible and only bites in absolutely exceptional cases, for example when she feels threatened and there is no escape route available.
Stung - what now?
If the blue carpenter bee actually stings, you have to be prepared for the following consequences:
- Reddening of the puncture site
- Slight swelling
- Moderate local pain around the injection site
- Takes a few hours to clear up
- Pressure pain at the puncture usually subsides the following day
Attention: The situation is different if you are allergic to bee venom. Then you have to react immediately, analogous to the sting of the honey bee. You may have an emergency kit with an appropriate antidote. If this is not the case, you should call the emergency doctor immediately.
frequently asked Questions
Does the blue carpenter bee appear in the swarm like the honey bee?No. Like most wild bees, it lives alone and prefers to build its nest in dead wood. Except for mating, it is therefore only found as a single individual. The more common females even avoid each other.
Sometimes the animal can be seen stabbing into flowers from the side. Why?In this case, the carpenter bee does not sting the flower, but bites through the calyx wall at the level of the nectar. If the calyx is too narrow to reach the nectar in the normal way, the bee creates its own "side entrance".
Why does the carpenter bee have a stinger when it's not poisonous?As with all other bee species, the stinger is also used for defence. The weak toxin is perfectly adequate to ward off predators, but is completely harmless to non-allergic people.