Today’s letter X is for Xylocopa, the genus for the common Carpenter Bee. There are over 500 species of bees in this genus, with the common trait that nearly all of them nest in plant material, typically dead wood. Carpenter bees can seem a little scary, as they tend to be large bees with smooth black abdomens, and have a tendency to hover in front of people or other animals that encroach on their space. They rarely sting, however, and are more likely to fly away unless their home is directly attacked.