Carpenter Bees

Bees in general have quite a reputation for scaring people by their stings, but carpenter ants have the ability to sting your wallet by causing considerable damage to your home or business.  Carpenter bees build tunnels in wood where they make their nests and lay eggs.  They are often confused with bumble bees, given that both have similar appearances.  However, you can identify a carpenter bee by its shiny black abdomen.  Bumble bees have a yellow or yellow-striped, hairy abdomen.  Carpenter bees spend their winters in empty tunnels and emerge in the spring to search for mates.  Male carpenter bees can be aggressive in the early spring, hovering around people and often causing anxiety.  There is little to worry about, though, as males have no stinger.  Female carpenter bees by contrast are much less aggressive and mostly do not sting without provocation.

Carpenter bee tunnel

 
After the adult carpenter bees emerge in the spring, they mate and the females then begin tunneling into wood to lay their eggs.  The female bees prefer bare, untreated wood for their nests, and are especially drawn to softwoods, including cypress, cedar, pine and redwood.  Often they can be found in window trim, siding, porches, under eaves or even in outdoor furniture.  A key indicator of carpenter ant infestation is the characteristic hole at the entrance of their nest cells.  They leave a perfectly round circle about the size of a pencil.  You may also notice a pile of coarse sawdust near these holes, and may even hear the femaleexcavating.

Wood shavings from a carpenter bee tunnel excavation

Once the female has laid her eggs, she leaves a bubble of pollen which will sustain the larvae until they are full grown.  After a few short months, these adults will emerge near the end of the summer.  But soon they will be back to winter in their dry wood tunnels.  If you suspect you may have carpenter bees, contacting a professional pest management company such as Ace Walco is your best option.  Although female carpenter bees are less aggressive than males, they will not hesitate to sting anyone or anything bothering their nesting site.  Ace Walco provides thorough examinations of your building and will treat it in the most conscientious way possible.  Click here to schedule a free inspection or call now to set up an appointment.

Carpenter bee emerging from a tunnel

Tips for Keeping Carpenter Bees Away

Since carpenter bees prefer bare, untreated wood, ensure that there is none for them to enjoy.  Painting all exposed wood around your home is the first line of defense against these excavators.

Stains and other wood preservatives are less effective as a good coating of paint, but they do repel insects to some extent. 

Keep garage/shop doors closed in the spring while carpenter bees are looking for nesting sites.

Wood that has previously been infested should be treated, then the holes should be plugged to prevent future use.