You guys were no help with those open mouthed dragons. Let's try this one.

It is a very old snap taken with old instamatic, but the solid black bees still come to the garden. Sometimes I see them territory dueling with the yellow striped bubble bees who always turn in defeat. The black ones are slightly larger than standard bumblers. Anyone know anything about them?

Maggie, couple of book entries -- the Great Carpenter Bee, 3/4" long. In Maryjo Koch's Dragonfly Beetle Butterfly Bee book. Says they can be solid black.

Old bug book I have says Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa viginica (linnaeus). Large, robust, about one inch long. Similar to bumblebee but with upper part of the abdomen largely bare. Excavates galleries in solid wood.

Oh good, they're probably rearranging all the wood thingies in my attic for me, to help get that pull-down staircase in. Or maybe a fall-down ceiling.

We did the pull down staircase the week we moved in. So the attic is full. Hey, that's were you could store your classic auto when you find it in the garage! By the way, when I read "excavates galleries in solid wood", I pictured bees admiring different sculpture and paintings in an art gallery. Warped, I know. But still, I love my bees, no matter where they are roaming.

Hello, I was at Huron Beach in Holly, MI with a friend of mine on Sept. 9, 05 and as soon as we sat down (we had food,) we were accosted by two large black bees. These bees were very aggressive, and we had difficulty sealing our sandwiches back up. Has anyone seen this type of bee (black with gray), and if so, what type are they? Does anyone know anything about them? We are planning on going back to the beach, and wanted to cook out, but are a bit afraid at this point. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi Bridgette,
They were probably black carpenter bees that make holes to lay eggs in telephone poles and wood fences. They are usually solitary creatures and do not swarm in numbers. You may have been in the vicinity of a newly hatched batch where those two had not yet dispersed from each other.

They feed from nectar plants and may have been attracted to a sweet scented food or beverage in your picnic. I doubt they would be a problem on your next visit, but if so,, leave an open container of your cola, or whatever, for them to sup from at a distance and keep yours in a snap-top sport bottle or such.

They are not reputed to attack without being threatened and even then, the sting is considered very mild. Do not let them rain on your next picnic – just remember you are bigger than them.

I am allergic to bees and I had been stung several times by a 1" black and brown bee that was apparently inside of a steel pipe which I never saw it until he already had me. I'm just trying to findout if anyone might have an idea as to what type of bee this might be? I would greatly appreciate it much.

Thank you

To get an exact id, requires a carcass. If you can, send or take it to a university entomology dept or perhaps your local county extension office for specific identification. Better let a non allergic bud acquire it for you tho ;-)