What behavior is common for carpenter bees during nesting?

Carpenter bees exhibit a variety of behaviors during their nesting process, which indeed includes making extensive tunnels, chewing on wood, and creating small holes.

These bees begin their nesting activities by seeking out suitable wood, often in soft, untreated timber. They create small entrance holes to gain access to the wood, which serves as both a nesting site and a source of food for their larvae. Once inside, carpenter bees will chew through the wood, excavating tunnels that can extend several feet in length. This behavior is essential for creating a space where they can lay eggs and provide for their offspring.

The combination of all these behaviors—making extensive tunnels, chewing on wood, and creating small holes—highlights the carpenter bee's nesting habits. This comprehensive approach to nesting explains why the answer encompasses all these actions, emphasizing the carpenter bee's significant interaction with wood in their lifecycle.