How To Keep Carpenter Bees Away From Your House

Xylocopa

Ah, springtime!

Don't you just love the glorious profusion of new life as gardens and landscapes wake up from their long sleep? The days get longer, flowers and copse blossom, and birds, butterflies, and beautiful critters return from their winter respite.

And, oh yes… so practice the pests.

Pests like carpenter bees. With their giveaway, dime-sized holes that they chew in your wooden structures to build nests.

Macro shot of a black and yellow carpenter bee entering into a hole is a piece of wood.

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Now, it'southward hard to become mad at these little insects, because they're important pollinators. They're docile as tin can exist, and rarely sting, doing so just when forced to. In fact, the males don't even accept stingers – although they put on a good show of buzzing intruders.

But they exercise like to nest in dead wood. And structural components like beams, eaves, posts, and siding are all fair game.

To be off-white, they don't actually eat the woods and won't devour a edifice similar carpenter ants or termites do. And damage is ordinarily modest and cosmetic in nature. But if left unchecked, over time the damage tin worsen and lead to more serious problems such as decay, moisture memory, and rot.

A carpenter bee collecting pollen on a sunflower.

And then, if you remember carpenter bees have set shop in your shop, delight read on.

We have everything you demand to identify a possible infestation and how to be rid of it – naturally if possible, but we dish on chemical warfare too!

Identification and Biology
Predators
Nesting and Favored Habitats
How to Place Nesting Sites
Organic and Chemical Command Methods
1. Bee Hotels
2. Citrus Oil
3. Dress Exposed Wood
4. Fill up Abandoned Holes
5. Hang a Decoy Wasp Nest
6. Lay a Trap
7. Turn Up the Tunes
8. Use a Tennis Dissonance
9. Insecticide Spray
10. Carburetor Cleaner and WD40
11. Petroleum

Identification and Biology

Carpenter, or borer bees, are in the genus Xylocopa of the Apidae family, with hundreds of species in several subgenera found around the world.

They're aptly named for their nesting beliefs of burrowing into dead wood to establish tunnels in gild to lay eggs.

A carpenter been sitting on small branch that has had a hole drilled for nesting.

Featuring short mouthparts, carpenters are important pollinators on open-faced or shallow flowers and those that form lids. And for some species, similar the maypop (Passiflora incarnata) and bounding main rose (Orphium frutescens), they're the only pollinator.

Naturally docile, males don't have stingers – although they volition hover close to animals and people that approach nest sites. And the females only sting when aggressively provoked or handled.

Xylocopa are most active in the period of mid-tardily spring to early on summer when they're looking for suitable mates and nesting sites.

Measuring 1/2 to 1 inch in length, there are numerous variations to their colorings, many with blackness and yellowish or blackness and orange markings. They have shiny, smooth abdomens, black in color with females oftentimes displaying metallic tones.

And there are some that have iridescent wings, as well as species with bright blue or chartreuse body hair.

A blue colored carpenter bee gathering pollen on a yellow daisy bloom.

Unlike many species that live in large colonies, carpenters are not social insects.

Afterward mating, males will stick around to protect the nest. But it's a solitary female that constructs the nest, forming long tunnels into which she lays the eggs.

One time laid, eggs become through another 2 stages of development, larva and pupa, before they sally as adults approximately 7 weeks later.

In several species, females may alive nigh their ain daughters or sisters, creating a small family social group.

Many species are similar in size and shape to bumblebees, and the two are frequently confused. And they're frequently misidentified as footing-burrowing species as well.

Predators

Natural predators include badgers, mantises, predatory flies, and some birds such as bee-eaters, shrikes, and woodpeckers.

Unfortunately, woodpeckers will cause more damage past drilling into the forest beside nests to get at the grubs.

Nesting and Favored Habitats

Carpenter bees don't actually swallow woods. The females bore holes by using their mandibles as a rasp confronting the wood while vigorously vibrating their bodies.

Macro shot of a yellow and black female carpenter bee emerging from a bored nesting hole.

Each nest features a single entrance that usually spreads to connecting tunnels, called cells – these are the nurseries where eggs are deposited. A new gallery measures around 4-half-dozen inches in length, simply those reused over several years tin be x feet long!

Their favorite edifice material is soft, unpainted, and aged forest, although in that location are species that prefer hard forest.

And any wooden structure is suitable. Arbors, decks, eaves, fascia boards, gates, patio article of furniture, pergolas, porch ceilings, posts, siding, and window trim are all suitable sites.

Once the prison cell is prepare, the female parent provisions each ane with a platform of pollen and nectar, called a pollen loaf, upon which a single egg is laid. She then partitions the prison cell with a wall of chewed wood pulp. Larvae volition feed on the pollen loaf until they sally from the nest.

Close up of a carpenter bee with egg inside of a wood cell. Macro shot.

Developed carpenters volition oft overwinter in their original tunnels or find abandoned ones, which they stock with pollen to survive the cold. The ones that survive the wintertime will emerge in spring to mate, with both the males and females dying after mating and laying eggs.

How to Place Nesting Sites

The about obvious signs of an infestation are the circular, half-inch holes that carpenters bore into wood as an entry point.

Damage to a porch post consisting of a drilled hole caused by carpenter bees.

And if you lot spot several males hovering in i spot, information technology's a skillful indication that a female, and her nest, are ordinarily nearby.

In add-on to the entry holes, there may besides exist a small pile of fresh sawdust outside the hole, scraping sounds from inside the woods, or a fan-shaped stain below the opening.

Organic and Chemical Control Methods

Here are a few natural methods to make your dwelling less bonny as a nesting site:

i. Bee Hotels

Hotels are constructed of removable bamboo, newspaper, or wood tubes housed in a small frame.

Typically used to provide nesting sites for garden-friendly pollinators similar mason bees, hotels may provide an alternate site for females looking to nest.

JCs Wildlife Minor Poly Lumber Bee House

This well-designed hotel that's available on Amazon is a popular one, with a tough poly frame and charred pine burrows.

two. Citrus Oil

Citrus oil is a safe, natural repellent that carpenter bees dislike, and you can easily make your own at home.

Cut upwards a pick of peels from a variety of citrus fruits, place in a pan, and cover with h2o. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from rut, allow to cool, then strain and pour the water into a spray bottle.

Dunk the nest with your spray and reapply until all the females have relocated, so repair and paint the forest as described in the next tip.

I haven't tried citrus oil for insects, but information technology is my personal favorite to prevent deer from grazing in the garden. And information technology repels rodents as well.

Pure Cold Pressed Orange Oil Concentrate, 32 oz. (D-Limonene)

If you're not inclined to make your own spray, you tin can pick some up online. Like this one-quart canteen of orangish oil available on Amazon – it has 80-95 percent D-limonene, the active ingredient in citrus oils.

iii. Dress Exposed Wood

Information technology's easier to be proactive in discouraging carpenters than it is to react to their subversive burrowing.

To dissuade them from starting nests, paint all exposed surfaces with a primer and ii coats of outside pigment. Stains and varnishes likewise offer some protection only are less constructive than paint.

Before you paint, fill all cracks, nail holes, and splinters with caulk, putty, or forest filler as whatever existing damage provides an appealing point to start a nest.

4. Fill Abandoned Holes

Equally overwintering adults emerge in bound and new ones come out in late summer, stuff the entrances with caulk, a dowel, wadded aluminum foil, spray cream insulation, or steel wool.

Smooth the surface and paint every bit outlined higher up.

5. Hang a Decoy Wasp Nest

Carpenter bees volition avoid nesting in the same surface area as wasps.

To mimic the shape and size of a wasp nest, stuff a chocolate-brown paper bag with lightweight fabric such every bit moss, newspaper, or plastic numberless. Tie off the open up terminate with a length of string and hang it in the expanse y'all want to protect.

Keep in mind that this only works to deter them from edifice new nests – it won't keep insects away from an existing nest in the area.

Waspinator, Fix of 3

You lot can option up a iii-pack of decoy wasp nests now on Amazon.

half-dozen. Lay a Trap

An easy method to become rid of your infestation is to place a trap near the nest.

A trap consists of a wooden peak with angled holes drilled into information technology and a plastic container or jar attached to the bottom.

Because of the bending of the holes, the merely light source comes from the bottom. The bees enter the pigsty, head for the light in the jar, so tin't go dorsum out.

Traps should exist located straight above an agile nest. Information technology may take a while for the trap to work, merely once one or 2 have entered and released pheromones, others volition be attracted to the site as well.

Original B Brothers-Carpenter Bee Trap

If you're handy with woodworking, you lot can make your own. Or you tin pick them up at pest control and garden shops or online – like these from Original B Brothers, available on Amazon.

vii. Turn Upward the Tunes

It turns out that bees communicate through vibroacoustics, and they tin can "hear" low frequency sounds of up to 500 Hz.

This makes them sensitive to vibrations, and they can be encouraged to vacate nests by playing loud music close by.

Cull music with a deep, reverberating bass line (a bass guitar has low frequencies) and place the speaker right against the wall beside their location – so crank upwards the volume!

Once the females have vacated, plug the hole and paint.

eight. Utilize a Tennis Racket

In the spring when bees are almost actively seeking nesting sites, you can dispatch flying critters with a good backhand.

Use an one-time badminton, lawn tennis, or squash dissonance and patrol on a sunny twenty-four hours, giving a smack to those eyeing up your woods.

9. Insecticide Spray

Deterring carpenters with natural solutions is the preferred method, but if you must pull out the large guns, hither's our offset proffer:

Products like flying insect sprays will kill the queen and her eggs.

Utilize a liquid or droplets product with an extension tube and utilize directly into the pigsty. Awarding should be done at nighttime while they're resting, or in early spring before they emerge from hibernation.

If you cull this method, always read and follow label instructions and wearable protective gear equally needed.

10. Carburetor Cleaner and WD40

An alternative to insecticides is to apply an aerosol such as carburetor cleaner or WD40.

These petroleum-based products will finer kill any insects. Apply a spray with an extension tube to get into the tunnels.

11. Petroleum

A petty gasoline in a spray bottle tin be an effective homemade insecticide as well.

Spray the entrance regularly until there'due south no more activity.

This is a technique probable used past your grandparents in the past. Nosotros don't recommend information technology and would choose another method. It may not even exist (bee?) legal with the stricter environmental laws that are in identify today in many areas.

Of course, petroleum and petroleum-based products are highly flammable and should never be used virtually an open flame or an ignition source. When finished, exist sure to label your spray bottle to avert accidental misuse, and don't shop in the firm or in loftier temperature environments such as outbuildings without air conditions.

We are not responsible for accidents or Darwin Accolade winners. Use at your own risk!

With all chemical applications, avoid getting the products on your skin or inhaling the fumes. Article of clothing eye protection, a respirator, and gloves when applying chemic products.

Buzz Off!

With a piffling seasonal maintenance of your wooden structures, you can practice a lot to prevent carpenter bee infestations.

Go on up a authorities of repairing any damaged wooden surfaces, repair holes on a regular basis, and paint surfaces.

A carpenter bees emerges from a nesting hole chew in in a wooden post.

If you exercise accept an existing infestation, endeavour one of the solutions above or hire a pest control skilful to practice it for you.

Just delight call up that these are gentle piffling creatures performing a vital service for our well-being! If possible, lure them out and tell them to buzz off before resorting to killing them.

Do you folks have whatever favorite solutions for getting rid of these flight insects? Shoot united states of america a line in the comments beneath. And be sure to bank check our guides on garden diseases and insects for other pest solutions, or buzz on over to these manufactures to increase your knowledge:

Integrated Pest Direction: What Is Information technology, and How to Utilise It?
23 Beneficial Insects and Other Creepy Crawlies That Your Garden Volition Love
Extend the Flavour and Keep Pests Out with Floating Row Covers

Source: https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/disease-and-pests/stop-carpenter-bees/