Many people who have allergic responses to bee stings or a general fear of bees may wonder if the carpenter bee stings. Such people may notice a species of this particular bee hovering about their front yards, and their appearance may be intimidating. A short answer to the question of whether carpenter bees sting is yes, in some cases the carpenter bee will sting, but this action is very rare. The male carpenter bee does not have the capability of stinging at all. They are not equipped with this functionality. However, the female carpenter bees do have the capability, but they seldom are motivated to sting a person. The individual will have to provoke the female carpenter bee immensely in order to invoke such a response.
Carpenter bees are mostly observed in the springtime. Such bees will mostly keep to themselves. The female bees are the ones who prepare the nest, while the male carpenter bees mate the females and expand the species. Male carpenter bees seek out females by hovering over them and waiting for them to pass. At such a time when a female passes the male bee, he will release hormones and impregnate the female. Male carpenter bees also protect their territories against other males.
The female carpenter bees are the ones that build the nests for the community. They perform this by tunneling into the wood and creating a hole in which the other bees can live. The carpenter bee is not a widely social being. Some species may form very small social circles, while others will remain mostly solitary.
Carpenter bees are mostly harmless. Their intention is not to hurt human beings. To ensure that a person is not stung by a female carpenter bee, that person should remain calm when facing one and avoid waving the hands or making other intimidating movements.