![]() Sometimes it is necessary to control carpenter bees causing damage. Synthetic surfaces such as vinyl or HardiePlank™ siding are not damaged by carpenter bees. If practical, remove severely damaged wood and it replace with chemical pressure-treated wood to deter nest construction. Wood stains provide little repelling action. Unfortunately, painting or placing polyurethane on wood decks or log homes is often not a desirable option. The most effective deterrent to carpenter bee activities is a painted surface. Unpainted, exposed wood is especially attractive to carpenter bees. Also, woodpeckers feeding on the developing bee larvae will tear into the galleries, further damaging the wood to the point where it needs replacing. In addition, the open holes allow water intrusion that also can create considerable moisture damage over time. Nest sites by a single bee result in slight damage, but repeated colonization over several years may result in considerable damage. Normally, the gallery will extend about four to six inches, but with repeated use, galleries have measured ten feet long. The excavating bee will bore directly into the wood with her mouth parts for about an inch, then turn sharply and bore at a 90-degree angle, usually along the grain of the wood. Homeowners often notice a buzzing or burrowing sound coming from within the wood. Unsightly stains caused by falling bee waste around the entrance hole may also develop. An early sign of carpenter bee damage is coarse sawdust that collects beneath excavated cavities during the spring of the year. Unfortunately, they also can be pests around homes, causing considerable structural damage when they repeatedly colonize exposed wood. The egg hatches and the larva (grub stage) develops into the adult, which chews through the cell partition and emerges in late summer.Ĭarpenter bees are good pollinators and should not be harmed. A female will mix pollen and nectar to form “bee bread,” lay an egg on the ball of bee bread and seal off each cell with chewed wood pulp. Each gallery (or tunnel) will hold six to eight cells. Females may use old abandoned nest tunnels or excavate new galleries to lay her eggs. The adults emerge in early spring to mate and search for nest sites. Because carpenter bees are solitary bees, they are less defensive of their nest sites whereas, bumble bees are extremely defensive when their nest site is disturbed.Īdult female and male carpenter bees overwinter in abandoned nest tunnels where they have stored small amounts of pollen. Bumble bees are social bees that develop colonies of dozens of sister bees that nest in the ground. Carpenter bees are solitary bees that nest in excavated wooden tunnels. It is important to distinguish between carpenter bees and bumble bees because they behave very differently. Carpenter bees have few hairs on the abdomen, making them look “shiny,” while bumble bee abdomens are very hairy and “fuzzy” looking. The quickest way to tell a carpenter bee from a bumble bee is by looking at its abdomen. Actually, there are many species of bumble bees and carpenter bees, each with unique color patterns, but most carpenter and bumble bees are yellow and black. Homeowners often mistake carpenter bees with bumble bees because of their similarities in size and appearance. While these traps will collect carpenter bees if properly installed, traps often do not provide total control around a structure, leaving other carpenter bees to continue to do damage.Įric Benson, ©Clemson Extension, Clemson University. There are several commercial and homemade traps where carpenters crawl in and cannot get out. Males have a white or yellow blaze on their face, while females have a dark face. The female has a stinger but is not defensive and rarely stings. Although the male behaves aggressively, it does not have a stinger, making it harmless. ![]() The male carpenter bee is very territorial and protects its nesting sites, hovering nearby and attacking intruders. Homeowners are often frightened by these pesky black bees that fly erratically around their homes. They naturally nest in dead trees and woodpiles, but they also bore into exterior wood on buildings, fences, decks, and outdoor furniture. These insects earn their name because they bore one-half inch wide holes that appear to be perfectly round on exterior wooden surfaces. Carpenter bees are very active from early spring through summer around houses and other wooden structures. Spring is here and so are the carpenter bees. To participate in the survey, see Carpenter Bee Survey. This information will help them develop improved management options for the future. You can help by providing feedback in their survey, which should take just 10 to 15 minutes to complete. ***North Carolina State University is doing research about eastern carpenter bee management on private property.
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