Skip to content
logo The DIY portal for home and garden
Also Found in the Garden

Did You Know That the “Black Hornet” Is Actually Not a Hornet?

Blue-black carpenter bee on a flower
The Black Hornet is not—despite what the name might suggest—a hornet. Photo: Getty Images/Vatroslav Zupanic

July 2, 2025, 8:57 am | Read time: 3 minutes

An unusually large, black insect is increasingly being spotted in German gardens, initially resembling a hornet at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, the so-called “black hornet” is actually an entirely different species.

Share article

With its size of up to 2.8 centimeters and metallic-black body, the insect appears threatening to many people. However, the insect, commonly referred to as the “Black Hornet,” is neither a hornet nor a bumblebee, but the Violet Carpenter Bee. Scientifically, it is known as Xylocopa violacea and has been named the Wild Bee of the Year 2024 by NABU. Despite its impressive appearance, the Violet Carpenter Bee is peaceful, beneficial, and not dangerous at all.

Beware of Confusion

The Violet Carpenter Bee has a deep black body with violet shimmering wings. Its appearance is reminiscent of a bumblebee, but due to its size and dark color, it is often mistaken for a hornet. Females can grow up to 28 millimeters long, with a wingspan of about four centimeters.

The shiny armor and loud buzzing in flight enhance the impression of a potentially dangerous creature. In reality, the opposite is true: The carpenter bee only stings in extreme emergencies, and males are entirely stingless.

Lifestyle of the Violet Carpenter Bee

As a solitary bee, the Violet Carpenter Bee does not live in colonies but alone, according to NABU. Females build their nests in sunlit deadwood by gnawing tunnels up to 30 centimeters long into decaying wood. They create brood chambers there, which are filled with pollen and nectar.

The larvae usually hatch in July. Due to climate change, this heat-loving species has been spreading increasingly northward in recent years. While it was previously found mainly in southwestern Germany, its range now extends far into northern Germany.

More on the topic

Ecological Importance and Protection Status

The Violet Carpenter Bee plays an important role as a pollinator in the ecosystem. It prefers pollen-rich plants such as sweet peas or garden honeysuckle. Due to its body size and long tongue, it can pollinate flowers that are inaccessible to other insects.

In some cases, however, it uses a trick: It bites a hole in the flower to reach the nectar without contributing to pollination. Nevertheless, it is considered an important part of biological diversity. Carpenter bees are protected by species conservation laws and must not be killed. On the Red List, Xylocopa violacea is currently classified as “not endangered.”

But beware: Not every large insect in the garden is a carpenter bee. If you see a specimen with a yellow-black striped abdomen, you may be dealing with an Asian Hornet. This species hunts honeybees and is much more agile. The Violet Carpenter Bee—although called “Black Hornet”—flies leisurely and focuses on plants. It poses no threat to humans—on the contrary, those who leave deadwood in the garden or offer special nesting aids can actively contribute to the protection of the species.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

Topics #AmazonHome Tiere
You have successfully withdrawn your consent to the processing of personal data through tracking and advertising when using this website. You can now consent to data processing again or object to legitimate interests.