How can you distinguish carpenter bees from bumble bees?

Carpenter bees can be identified by their distinctively shiny, black, and hairless abdomens. This feature is quite notable as it contrasts sharply with bumble bees, which typically have fuzzy bodies covered in hair. The lack of hair on the abdomen of carpenter bees gives them a sleek appearance, making this a reliable distinguishing characteristic.

Other aspects of this question can help solidify your understanding of the differences. For instance, carpenter bees are generally similar in size to bumble bees, so size is not a reliable factor for identification. Furthermore, while hovering abilities can be found in both types of bees, the distinctive appearance of the carpenter bee's abdomen provides a much clearer differentiating feature. The bright yellow stripes mentioned are more characteristic of bumble bees, further highlighting why the shiny, hairless abdomen is the correct identifying trait.