Question
QUESTION: ok we just moved in to a new home that was built just 2 years ago.we moved in December and now that things are warming up the bees are out. well we have had a few wendy days and the bee was out a little but left soon because of the wind. now that things have died down the bee is back. it hovers over my back deck and darts at any wasp,butterfly. the big bee seems very agressive so i took a paper towel and threw it out the door when the bee was not in sight and there it came rushing over to the towel. the bee does leave but not for very long maybe 5 min if lucky. another bee just like it showed up and they flew at eachother but i have only seen one i guess it ran the other off. the funny thing is that the bee will stand flying and its like it is looking back at me threw the glass, if i go to my bedroom window it shortly shows up? What do i do about this bee? i have a 1 yr boy who loves to be out side but i am worried that he will get stung because i dont know whats up with this bee. why is it here? i dont have any flowers around my house just a few trees that arnt very big because they were only planted 2 yr ago.this all takes place on my back deck where all the traffic is why wont the bee go to the frount porch where it can live we dont use the frount any way. i might have to kill the bee if it does not go away because its agressive. what do i do about this help me please so my child can play out side once more. the front is not safe for my child to play.

ANSWER: Shelly,

Can you describe this bee a little more? How big is it compared to a honey bee? What color is it? Is it striped or a solid color? Does it appear to be covered with hairs like a bumble bee or is it hairless and shiny? Anything else that you notice about the bee. Most large bees and wasps are not very aggressive and won't sting so this is a bit unusual. Post a follow up and I'll help you figure this out.

Jack DeAngelis
http://www.livingwithbugs.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: the bee is bigger than a honey bee. i would say almost like a quarter size or a little more. it is yellow and black no stripes almost like yellow patches on it. the bee has like a black or dark brown butt. the bee looks to have hairs but his butt is shiny.the strange thing is that is it very windy out today and the bee is trying to fly around at times. i dont know were it goes when it is gone but the stupied thing only leaves for like less than 5 min. i have never seen anything like this. why dosent he go do what bees do? do they usuly hang out and nver leave for no reason? i almost thought it was a capenter bee because of our wood deck but it does not go on the wood he just stays flying in the middel of the deck and stays about chest lenth in the air in one spot. and thank you for helping me i was told the bee would leave but it is still here. also i dont understand why there is just one.

Answer
Shelly,

I agree this sounds like a carpenter bee (black, shiny "butt", quarter-size, yellow & black w/ hairs). I don't know why it is behaving this way but carpenter bees are not aggressive so this one should pose no threat of any kind. My guess is it is starting to build a nest and perhaps the wind is disrupting the work. Once the wind dies down the bee will be able to get down to work on its nest and will stop flying around the deck. Carpenter bees are very active at this time of the year.

Jack DeAngelis
http://www.livingwithbugs.com