Eastern Carpenter Bee Xylocopa virginica

The eastern carpenter bee is exactly what it sounds like: a solitary bee that drills perfectly round, pencil-sized tunnels into dead wood or old buildings to construct brood chambers for raising its young. Don't mistake these burly bees for aggressive wasps—these fuzzy, gentle giants are far too busy collecting pollen and nectar to have any interest in stinging. Found throughout the eastern United States and into Canada, they're easy to spot hovering around wooden structures, fence posts, and dead tree limbs in spring. Listen for their distinctive buzzing sound as they work.