Sorry to post here, but for some reason I can’t post this in insects….. I tried 4 times and it failed.

debra

' The female carpenter bee excavates a tunnel for her offspring. In each brood chamber, she stores food and lays an egg. Having reproduced, adult carpenter bees die off in July, leaving the new generation to continue the cycle when they emerge a month or so later. '

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-control-carpenter-bees-1968073#:~:text=The%20female%20carpenter%20bee%20excavates,a%20month%20or%20so%20later.

Bees have a short lifespan. If you have ever been fortunate enough to visit someone with a honeybee hive, you would see bee bodies laying all over the area near the hive, having perished working until the very end. Carpenter bees are the same.

Agree w/rhizo -- I see a fair number of bees (often bumblebees) clinging to flowers that are just run down and at their lives end.

Bill, you are always a wealth of information!
Rico, thanks for your info as well….. I have never visited a place with a hive so it would be interesting to do that.
beng, I have also seen what you describe. I wondered whether they were “resting, sleeping” but your comment also explains exactly what I am also seeing.

Thanks all