Photo: Hectonichus / CC BY-SA 4.0
Ceratina cyanea
Blue Carpenter Bee
A very small carpenter bee (5-7 mm) with a striking metallic blue-green body and clubbed antennae. It nests by gnawing tunnels into the pith of dead plant stems such as bramble, elder, and thistles. Both sexes overwinter in hollow stems and emerge in April. It is polylectic, visiting a wide variety of flowers. In Switzerland it is common from lowlands up to 1600 m in gardens, forest edges, and ruderal areas. Swiss Red List: Least Concern (LC).
Species Facts
- Size
- 5-7 mm
- Flight Period
- April to September
- Nesting
- Cavities
- Specialization
- Generalist
- Abundance
- Common
- Family
- Apidae
External Sources
This data has been cross-referenced with national sources:
Data Source & Copyright
| Category | Source / Author | License |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Hectonichus | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
| Taxonomy & Distribution | InfoFauna Switzerland | Public data |
| Global Distribution | GBIF | CC BY 4.0 |
Data Quality
High Quality Last audit: 2026-05-22
Completeness: 100%
✓Photo exists✓Traits consistent✓Description quality✓Red List referenced✓Attribution verified
Confidence: 67%
IdentifiabilityMediumImage confidenceMediumImage qualityHighTrait coherenceHigh
