Before we get into how to remove these bees from your property, let’s see if the bees you are seeing are actually carpenter bees, and talk about the extent of the damages they can cause.
To identify this bee, there are two things you can look at. First, you can look at the bees themselves and, second, you can look for the holes that these bees leave behind. A carpenter bee is about 1 inch long and looks a lot like a regular honey bee. However, they have a noticeable, black, shiny rear end. This is their most noticeable feature; from the waist back they are entirely black. And this can be seen from several feet away. The second thing to look for to identify if you are dealing with carpenter bees are the penny-sized, perfectly round holes that they bore underneath wooden structures. The wood these creatures are most likely to attack is typically unstained, unpainted, and untreated. So be sure to look closely in these areas.
Now that you know how to check if you have carpenter bees, let’s talk about the dangers they can cause.
Take note that a single carpenter bee is not going to pose much of a problem. The problems come when these bees are left alone to multiply and grow their populations. When this happens, they can cause a lot of damage. A single carpenter bee can create a single tunnel that is about a nickel or a penny in diameter, and runs around a foot in length. That one tunnel won’t cause your back stairs to collapse, but several of those tunnels may just send someone to the hospital. The fact is, carpenter bees don’t prefer to start fresh with new tunnels. They would rather use established tunnels and make them longer. And the longer you leave carpenter bees to do their work, the more hidden damage is being done.
The way these insects most often tunnel is they tunnel upwards first, then make a right angle turn and continue horizontally. Sometimes, when they are tunneling, they accidentally go too far and come out the other side of the wooden object. When this happens their damage is even more noticeable.
Carpenter bees can also cause damage to a home in an indirect way. Carpenter bee larvae actually make noise that attracts woodpeckers. And when woodpeckers come to feed on carpenter bee larvae, they cause even more damage, by pecking and drilling more holes.
What can be done to keep carpenter bees from attacking your home?
If you suspect you have carpenter bees, or you are not sure, one thing you can do to protect your home is to paint or treat any untreated wood that may be exposed on your home. Since carpenter bees usually target untreated, unstained, and unpainted wood, especially underneath, it is important to treat these areas.
Let Spencer Pest Services Help
If you find that you have an infestation of carpenter bees, and you go searching for answers as to how to get rid of them, you will typically find two do-it-yourself techniques: plugging and pesticides. But, before you get started with this, be aware that, without a proper education of these strategies, you may not get the results you are looking for. While it may seem logical that plugging up current carpenter bee holes is imperative, if this is done at the wrong time or in the wrong way, your carpenter bee issue may actually be made worse. If a female bee becomes trapped within a tunnel system, she will bore her way out. But, a professional pest control technician is trained to properly plug holes so that these bees don’t cause further damage.
The same is true with using chemical products to get rid of carpenter bees. It is imperative to use some form of chemical product to take care of your bee problem, but if you are not educated in the proper mixture, this can create a health hazard for you, your kids, your pets, and anyone else who happens to come in contact with the improperly mixed chemicals. The pest professionals here at Spencer Pest Services, know which products will be most effective, while also being least toxic.
If you need help protecting your home from these destructive insects, reach out to us today. We will take care of your carpenter bee problem for you.