How do you get rid of Carpenter Bees?

Barbara Ramirez
by Barbara Ramirez

We have exposed beams on the out side of our home and the carpenter bees are eating them. The house is about 40 years old and the beams were made of treated lumber.

  3 answers
  • Cindy Hough Mosier Cindy Hough Mosier on Jul 15, 2018

    I’ve put up paper bags it’s not real pretty but they seem to think it’s a hornets nest

  • Amy Amy on Jul 15, 2018

    Spray with plain eucalyptus mouthwash.

  • Joanna Smith Joanna Smith on Jul 17, 2018

    Ah, the age-old problem. I am inundated with these things! Though they DO pollinate, they offer little else in positives and a LOT of damage. We built traps last year, (easy to find on Google), and they did help, we caught a lot of bees. This year, they were back with a vengeance. My best friends in this battle so far, have been nesting birds. I watch mother Robins grab Carpenter Bees right out of the air to feed their babies! Encourage Robins to nest near the bees by providing ledges they can nest on. In Fall, inspect the areas affected carefully and poke a wire into each hole. This breaks the eggs that will hatch next Spring and lowers the numbers of bees. Wait until a cold snap, cuz mama bee will attack you in warm weather, but the drillers are male and incapable of stinging. Then seal the holes with Great Stuff or caulk. I have even sat outdoors with a can of bee killer or automotive Brake-Kleen that works GREAT, and watched until the bees enter the holes, then spray directly into the hole. This kills the driller AND any eggs/larva. It's a tough fight that won't be won in one summer, but if you keep at it, eventually, they will seek other accommodations.