A teddy bear bee is not one single species: it is a nickname for fuzzy, golden-brown bees that look like tiny flying teddy bears. In California it usually means the male valley carpenter bee, while in Australia it refers to Amegilla bombiformis. Prefer one you can hug? Meet our Bear Bee Plush, a teddy bear bee stuffed animal.
Key takeaways
- "Teddy bear bee" is a common name, not a scientific one, and it covers bees on two continents.
- In California, the golden, green-eyed teddy bear bee is the male valley carpenter bee (Xylocopa varipuncta); females of the same species are shiny and black (UC ANR; San Diego Natural History Museum).
- Male valley carpenter bees have no stinger. Females can sting, but usually only when provoked (San Diego Natural History Museum).
- Australia's teddy bear bee, Amegilla bombiformis, is a solitary bee that nests in small burrows in soil and is a buzz pollinator (NSW Department of Primary Industries).
- Both kinds of teddy bear bees are pollinators, not pests.
What is a teddy bear bee?
A teddy bear bee is any bee whose dense, golden-brown hair makes it look like a miniature teddy bear. The name is informal, so it points to different insects depending on where you live.
Scientists name species in Latin; the public names them by what they see. A round body, soft-looking fuzz and a warm honey color are enough for people to reach for the teddy bear comparison. That is why two unrelated groups of bees, one in the American West and one in Australia, share the same cute nickname.
| Feature | California teddy bear bee | Australian teddy bear bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Xylocopa varipuncta (male valley carpenter bee) | Amegilla bombiformis and related Amegilla bees |
| Who looks "teddy" | Males only (females are black) | Both sexes |
| Color | Golden-buff fur, green eyes | Golden-brown hair with dark bands on the abdomen |
| Where it lives | Central Valley and southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, south into Mexico | Eastern Australia, excluding Tasmania |
| Nest | Tunnels dug by females in bare, unpainted wood | Small burrows in soil or eroded banks |
| Sting | Males cannot sting; females only when provoked | No need to report them, says NSW DPI |
The California teddy bear bee: the male valley carpenter bee
In California, the teddy bear bee is the male valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta. University of California entomologists describe it as golden or buff-colored with green eyes, while the females are all black.
This striking difference between males and females is called sexual dimorphism. UC Davis entomologist Robbin Thorp, quoted on the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Bug Squad blog, called it "sexual dimorphism at its best." The same blog notes that the valley carpenter bee is the biggest carpenter bee in California, roughly the size of a bumble bee queen.
Where you can see one
According to UC ANR, the valley carpenter bee lives in California's Central Valley and southern California, as well as Arizona and New Mexico, and its range continues south through Mexico. The San Diego Natural History Museum notes that males usually come out of winter rest first in spring, then become territorial as the mating season approaches.
Why it is called a carpenter bee
Carpenter bees get their name from nesting in wood. The San Diego Natural History Museum explains that females tunnel into unpainted, unstained natural wood such as fence posts, telephone poles and tree trunks, and that only females do the excavating.
The Australian teddy bear bee: Amegilla bombiformis
In Australia, "teddy bear bee" refers mainly to Amegilla bombiformis, a native bee covered in golden-brown hair, legs included. The NSW Department of Primary Industries gives its length as 15 to 20 mm.
Its species name, bombiformis, is Latin for "shaped like a bumblebee," a fair description of this stocky insect. The NSW Department of Primary Industries says the bees are widely distributed across eastern Australia, excluding Tasmania, and that they live alone or close to other teddy bear bees. The term is also used for several other hairy Amegilla species.
How it nests
- A female digs a burrow in soil, often in a creek bank or a sheltered spot in a garden.
- At the end of the burrow she builds several urn-shaped cells.
- She stocks each cell with a paste of pollen and nectar and lays one egg on it.
- The larva grows on that food store, protected underground.
Males do not help with nests. Instead, they rest overnight clinging to plant stems, according to Wikipedia's summary of field guides.
Do teddy bear bees sting?
Male teddy bear bees in California cannot sting at all. UC ANR states plainly: "Like all male bees, it doesn't sting."
The stinger of a bee is a modified egg-laying organ, which is why only females have one. The San Diego Natural History Museum notes that female valley carpenter bees do have a stinger but use it only when provoked. The NSW Department of Primary Industries says you do not need to report teddy bear bees. If you are allergic to insect stings, keep your distance from any bee and talk to a doctor about a plan.
Are teddy bear bees bumble bees?
No. Neither kind of teddy bear bee is a bumble bee, even though both are often mistaken for one. As the UC ANR Bug Squad blog puts it, "A bumble bee, it isn't. A carpenter bee, it is."
Bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus and usually live in colonies with a queen. Valley carpenter bees belong to Xylocopa and nest in wood, while Australian teddy bear bees belong to Amegilla and nest alone in soil. The NSW Department of Primary Industries notes that Australian teddy bear bees are more golden than the introduced European bumblebee found in Tasmania. For a closer look at how bees differ, read our guide to the differences between bumble bees and honey bees.
Why teddy bear bees matter for gardens
Teddy bear bees are pollinators. They carry pollen from flower to flower, which helps plants make seeds and fruit.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries describes Australian teddy bear bees as buzz pollinators: they vibrate their flight muscles to shake pollen loose from flowers that hold it tightly. Valley carpenter bee males and females are both described by the San Diego Natural History Museum as excellent pollinators. UC ANR adds that the big golden males often frighten people and pets and are mistaken for pests, when they are in fact pollinators. If one wanders into your home, gently guide it outside with a glass and a piece of card.
Bring home a teddy bear bee you can cuddle
Real teddy bear bees are best admired from a distance, but a plush one can sit on your bed all year. At Mister Plush, these bee plushies are in stock in our bee plush collection:
- Bear Bee Plush: an 11 in teddy bear dressed as a bee, with striped body, antennae and little wings, filled with 100% PP cotton and recommended for ages 3 and up.
- Sad Bee Plush: a round, teary-eyed bee holding a leaf, for anyone who feels a little gloomy sometimes.
- Fat Bee Plush: a chubby 6.3 in bumblebee with fuzzy yellow and black stripes, small enough for a desk or a backpack.
Prefer a classic? Browse our bear plush collection for teddy bears without the wings.
Teddy bear bee FAQ
Are teddy bear bees real?
Yes. Teddy bear bees are real insects, but the name is a nickname rather than an official species name. In California it describes the golden male valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta. In Australia it describes Amegilla bombiformis and some related hairy bees. Both are native pollinators found in the wild.
Why are male valley carpenter bees gold and females black?
The two sexes of the valley carpenter bee simply look very different, a trait biologists call sexual dimorphism. Males are covered in golden-buff hair and have green eyes, while females are shiny black with dark wings. Because only the golden males look fuzzy and warm, they are the ones people call teddy bear bees.
Where do teddy bear bees live?
It depends on which teddy bear bee you mean. The male valley carpenter bee lives in California's Central Valley and southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. The Australian teddy bear bee, Amegilla bombiformis, is found across eastern Australia but not Tasmania, and it is also recorded in New Guinea.
Is a teddy bear bee dangerous?
Teddy bear bees are not considered dangerous. Male valley carpenter bees have no stinger, and females sting only if provoked, according to the San Diego Natural History Museum. Australian authorities say teddy bear bees do not need to be reported. Anyone with a known bee sting allergy should still avoid handling bees and follow medical advice.
Conclusion
The teddy bear bee is really two stories: a golden male carpenter bee in the American West and a fuzzy solitary bee in eastern Australia. Both are gentle pollinators worth protecting. To keep a teddy bear bee close all year, explore our bee plush collection.
Sources
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bug Squad blog: teddy bear bee post by Kathy Keatley Garvey (December 26, 2011) and "'Teddy Bear' Bees".
- San Diego Natural History Museum, Coast to Cactus: Valley Carpenter Bee.
- NSW Department of Primary Industries: Teddy bear bee.
- Wikipedia: Amegilla bombiformis.
