I think I have either a hornet or a bumble bee always hovering around my deck and I wonder why?

[CTyankee]

It's a fat black bug and I think it might be hovering because he has a nest nearby he's protecting. I have to duck him on my way into the house (thank god he doesn't follow me in!).

Will he go away once his nest eggs hatch and fly away? I hate to think I will have to duck him every time I go into the house forever.

I don't want to be mean but will he die soon? Or maybe he's annoyed with me for not going away first.

Or maybe he isn't a "he." Maybe it's a she who is guarding her babies?

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Carpenter bee?

[getagrip_already]

3. sounds like it.....

The males especially are very territorial and will buzz or ping you.

But they don't have stingers, so there is that.

If it's all black, and large, it's probably a carpenter bee. They may have a nest in your house or deck. They are burrowing bees, hence the name.

Harmless to you, outside of annoying. But they can put large holes in wood.

[CTyankee]

5. Looks like it. Google said to leave citrus fruit peels out because they hate them.

I got those and will do. It won't hurt and might help. I'll report back as the drama unfolds...

[badgolfer]

2. Type of bee

It's most likely a carpenter bee. They look like a bumble bee. They love tunneling into decks for their nests.

[Metaphorical]

4. It's probably a carpenter bee

Hornets are usually yellow and more "bug"-like. Probably not a queen (queen's don't usually leave the nest). My guess is that if you have flowers near the base of your deck, that's what is attracting it, though a bird feeder or something similar (especially for hummingbirds) may also be what's attracting it. Let it be - it's doing an important service, especially at this time of the year, and there are too few bees in the world.

You may want to get your deck inspected, however. Carpenter bee's are attracted to rotting wood (fermenting) and as such it's presence may indicate that your deck is not as structurally sound as it should be.

[CTyankee]

6. Will do. The guy who did the deck for us is still around and I can ask him how old it is now. Probably 4 or 5 years.

[Marthe48]

7. The carpenter bees have guard duty

We've had them around the house and shed. They have never done more than establish their boundary and I haven't got stung. I usually respect them, but sometimes they set a guard by the door I use, or at the front of the shed and I have to pass them.

If there is only one, it is probably a guard. Hope you don't get swarmed.

[CTyankee]

8. OMG, when would that happen? It would probably kill me...

[Marthe48]

12. I didn't mean to scare you!

I've never seen more than one guard bee, which I think are well-meaning, but defenseless, insects. They might write you a strongly worded letter, or mention their concern I usually see them in Spring and early Summer, then no more till the next year.

However, there are some wasps and hornets who don't bother guarding, just swarm from their nests. Yellow jackets (yellow and black stripes) come to mind. If we ever got those, we sometimes (regretfully) destroyed the nests.

Just be careful and see what's around.

[Emile]

9. How can you tell it's a male?

[CTyankee]

10. I can't. Maybe it's a "she." Whatever....

[Marthe48]

11. Terrific eyesight!

[nuxvomica]

13. You should look for holes in the wood, especially the eaves

If it's a carpenter bee, they leave perfectly circular holes a little smaller than a dime. And you'll see sawdust below the holes. I sprayed the holes with orange oil and dish soap when I had them and that kept them away. Mix water and soap with the orange oil because it's highly flammable by itself.

[Easterncedar]

14. Never mind

I am removing my remark after some research. No useful advice!