Carpenter bees bore into plant stems or even into solid wood buildings, fences, or posts. They then make their nests in the tunnel. (5-7) .
According to Heinrich, social bees live in colonies where population can range from 10 to as many as 80,000 members. Honeybees have the most highly developed societies, which is why they are studied more frequently, then other species. Following honey bees in social development are the stingless bees and the bumblebees. Stingless bees have a sting but they do not use it for harm, instead they prefer to bite with their small jaws. Although some species of stingless bees dance others on their return trip to the nest from a good food source, will light repeatedly and rub scent from glands on their jaws, marking an aromatic trail the other bees can track back to the source. They build their nests in tropical areas in trees, on walls, in crude hives, or in open areas. Their honeycombs are built in horizontal layers and resemble a staircase in shape. An outer wall protects the structure. Colonies of stingless bees range from 50 to thousands of bees. Bumblebees live in colonies of 50 to several hundred bees. During the feeding of their larvae cells are opened when necessary or are even left completely open so the workers can tend to the larvae. Bumble bees and highly eusocial bees are the only groups of bees that store honey and pollen for adult as well as larval consumption. .
Parasitic bees don't make nests or hunt, but they use nests and food of other species of bees to provide for their parasitic young. They are two types: cleptoparasitic and social parasites. Cleptoparasitic bees invade solitary bees' nests, hide their eggs and close the chambers before the hosts lay theirs. The young of that parasitic bee then feeds on food stored by the solitary host female. Social parasites are bees that kill the resident queen and force the workers to raise the parasitic bees.
