What is the primary reason carpenter bees bore into wood?

Carpenter bees primarily bore into wood to lay their eggs and provide a suitable environment for their larvae to develop. The female carpenter bee excavates tunnels in the wood, which serve as nesting sites. After creating these tunnels, she will place her eggs within them and provide a food source for the larvae, typically consisting of pollen and nectar. This behavior ensures that the offspring have a safe location to grow and develop, protected from potential predators and environmental factors.

While carpenter bees do seek food sources, this is usually done while foraging, not by boring into wood. Creating shelter from predators isn't the primary motivation for their wood-boring behavior, as their nests are specifically designed for breeding rather than for general protection from threats. Additionally, carpenter bees do not bore into wood to extract moisture; their wood-boring activity is more closely related to reproduction and the development of their young.