Carpenter bees are a species of bee that is pretty common around the world. They are fairly large and make their nests in wood of all shapes and sizes. This can present a problem for those of us who use wood in our homes. If you’re concerned that you may have an infestation of carpenter bees in your home or business, consult the experts at Richland Pest and Bee Control in CT.
The carpenter bee is a rather large bee. The largest species can be as long as an inch. The thorax of the carpenter bee is covered by yellow, orange or white hairs, while the rest of the bee is black. The female carpenter bee will have a black head but the male will have white markings on his head. They all have thick hairs on their back legs. The male bee does not have a stinger, just like the honey bee, while the female does have a stinger and will sting if threatened.
It is not uncommon for carpenter bees to be mistaken for bumble bees. The differences are subtle unless you know what you are looking for. Bumble bees will have yellow hairs on the abdomen while carpenter bees will have a black abdomen. Bumble bees will also have pollen baskets on their back legs while carpenter bees have none. Also, carpenter bees will nest in wood, generally off the ground in trees while bumble bees make their nests in the ground.
As has already been mentioned, carpenter bees live in nests made in wood. They do not, however, eat the wood. In this they are very similar to carpenter ants. They tend to live much more solitary lives than their cousins, the honey bee. It is not unheard of for a carpenter bee to live on its own for quite some time. The females of the species will sometimes form a familial group, a sisterhood if you like, where sisters and mothers and daughters will live in close proximity to one another and may sometimes join their nests together, keeping thin pieces of wood between their various cells. When this does happen there is evidence that the work load is shared between the bees. One or two may become guards while the rest forage and bring back food for the others.
A structure doesn’t have to be completely wooden to attract a hive. Carpenter bees can also live in homes or structures with vinyl siding, aluminum siding and brick because of the wood underneath. The holes that the carpenter bee make in the wood measure just over half an inch wide and are often circular and on the underside of the chosen branch. Unlike the carpenter ant, they do not just burrow, they may actually reuse some of the wood and build partitions within the nest.
Carpenter bees are not too picky when it comes to the wood that they choose to nest in. They only require that there is sufficient room and a sufficient food supply nearby. As such, they may end up nesting inside the wood of your home or under an outdoor bench made of wood. The damage that they do can be extensive, burrowing 1-2 feet into a structure, and since the female can sting and will do so if provoked, it is important to have the carpenter bees treated professionally by Richland Pest and Bee Control, especially if there is a person in the vicinity that is allergic to bee venom.
If the bees are left to their own devices and the food supply is sufficient they may stay in one place for many generations. This can cause significant cosmetic damage to the wood they have chosen to nest in as each successive generation will be larger and more nests will need to be excavated. There is also the possibility that they will destroy your flowers as they slit the sides of the flower and rob it of nectar instead of going the more conventional route and pollinating the plants as insects should.
How can you prevent these little buggers from sharing your home? Richland Pest and Bee Control’s licensed exterminators can apply a bee barrier around your home to prevent infestations of all kinds of stinging insects. This preventative treatment can be performed annually, and is applied to peaks, eaves, gutters, fascia, soffit, overhangs, trim boards, vents of the attic, window frames, shutters, door frames, foundation, decks and fireplaces. Give us a call at Richland Pest & Bee Control for more information about bee barriers.
If you already have a carpenter bee infestation, you should call Richland Pest & Bee Control right away. You can help them out by finding the nesting sites and taking a note or a drawing of where they all are, but it is not a good idea to try to exterminate the bees on your own. Although the male bee does not have a stinger, the nests that you find are most likely going to be inhabited by female carpenter bees which do have stingers and do not take kindly to being exterminated. There is a large risk of being stung if you try to get rid of the bees on your own. Please do not try to get rid of the nest yourself.
As with most insect infestations, the earlier on you spot the problem and call us in to deal with it the better. Smaller numbers of bees are easier to deal with and a lot less dangerous. Just be sure that you do not give it a try as you are likely to get stung a number of times. Since 1974, we have been dealing with these nests, so we know how to vacate the bees as safely and as efficiently as possible.
Click through the questions below to learn more about carpenter bees control services options from Richland Pest & Bee Control. If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out by contacting us online, or giving us a call at 1-800-308-9126.
Carpenter bees are a type of bee that burrow into wood in order to create nests.
Carpenter bees are not usually dangerous to humans, as they are not aggressive and do not sting unless provoked.
The most obvious sign of carpenter bees is the presence of small holes in wood surfaces, as well as the sound of buzzing coming from within the wood.
It is possible to get rid of carpenter bees on your own using certain insecticides, but it is often safer and more effective to hire a professional pest control company.
Carpenter bees can cause significant damage to wooden structures if left unchecked, as their burrowing can weaken the wood and make it more susceptible to rot and other types of damage.
Preventative measures include painting or staining wood surfaces, filling in existing holes with wood filler, and using treated lumber for outdoor construction projects.
Contact a professional pest control company for treatment options, which may include insecticide sprays, dusts, or foam.
It is recommended that homeowners have their homes inspected for carpenter bees at least once a year, preferably in the spring when the bees are most active.
Carpenter bees are attracted to unpainted or unstained softwoods, such as pine, cedar, and redwood.
Pest control companies can help with a wide range of pests, including ants, termites, rodents, and bed bugs.
The best carpenter bee control will depend on the severity of the infestation and the specific circumstances of the property. A professional pest control company can provide a customized plan for carpenter bee control that may include insecticide treatments, sealing off access points, and preventative measures.
Carpenter bee control can be achieved through a combination of insecticide treatments, sealing off access points, and preventative measures such as painting or staining wood surfaces and using treated lumber for outdoor construction projects.
To keep carpenter bees away, it is recommended to paint or stain wooden surfaces, fill in existing holes with wood filler, and use treated lumber for outdoor construction projects. Additionally, providing alternative nesting sites such as bee boxes may discourage carpenter bees from nesting in unwanted areas.