Chapter IIL 



Carpenter-Bees; Carpenter-W.-xsps 5 Upholsterer-Bees. 



Carpenter-Bees. 



Among the solitary bees are several British species 

 which come under that class called carpenter-bees by 

 M. Reaumur, from the circumstance of their working 

 in wood, as the mason-bees work in stone. We have 

 frequently witnessed the operations of these inge- 

 nious little workers, who are particularly partial to 

 posts, palings, and the wood-work of houses which has 

 become sotl by beginning to decay. Wood actually 

 decayed, or affected by dry-rot, they seem to reject 

 as unfit for their purposes; but they make no objec- 

 tions to any hole previously drilled, provided it be 

 not too large ; and, like the mason-bees, they not 

 unfrequently take possession of an old nest^ a few 

 repairs being all that in this case is necessary. 



When a new nest is to be constructed, the bee 

 proceeds to chisel sufficient space for it out of the 

 wood with her jaws. We say her, because the task 

 in this instance, as in most others of solitary bees 

 and wasps, devolves solely upon the female, the male 

 taking no concern in the affair, and probably being 

 altogether ignorant that such a work is going forward. 

 It is, at least, certain that the male is never seen giv- 

 ing his assistance, and he seldom, if ever, approaches 

 the neighbourhood. The female carpenter-bee has a 

 task to perform no less arduous than the mason-bee; 

 for though the wood may be tolerably soft, she can 



