Valley carpenter bees are common in the garden now, and will continue to be so through the fall. They are easy to spot as they are the largest bees found in California, measuring up to an inch in length. Be careful of the metallic black females as they CAN INFLICT A STING that won’t soon be forgotten!!
The stingerless males, sometimes referred to as “teddy bears” are a beautiful honey color and can be safely examined at close range.
