Ground Bees:

Nesting: Ground bees, also known as solitary bees, construct their nests in the soil.

Appearance: They come in various sizes and colors, often with a furry or metallic appearance.

Behavior: Generally solitary, ground bees are not aggressive. They prefer to forage for pollen and nectar alone.

Nesting Sites: Nest entrances can be identified by small mounds of soil with a hole in the center.

Carpenter Bees:

Nesting: Carpenter bees are so named because they excavate tunnels in wood to build their nests.

Appearance: Resemble bumblebees but often have a shiny, hairless abdomen.

Behavior: While male carpenter bees can be territorial and hover around nests, they don’t have stingers. Females, who do have stingers, are usually less aggressive.

Nesting Sites: Carpenter bees often target softwoods, including deck railings, eaves, and other wooden structures.

Differences:

Nesting Behavior: Ground bees nest in the soil, while carpenter bees create nests in wood.

Social Structure: Ground bees are generally solitary, while carpenter bees can be solitary or exhibit simple forms of social behavior.

Aggressiveness: Ground bees are typically non-aggressive, while carpenter bees might show aggression if they feel threatened, but the males lack stingers.