What can be done about carpenter bees?

Question

Help, carpenter bees are once again attacking my granddaughter's playhouse! I've sprayed it in bug killer and not only do the carpenter bees make holes, then the woodpeckers peck even bigger holes!

D & K · Answer

Certainly a perplexing problem although I'd really be hesitant about using any kind of pesticide not only around bees but also in any area where children would be gathering. Carpenter or wood bees are native to this country unlike the european honey bees most people are familiar with. Both produce honey and both are good pollinators. My sister had a similar problem a few years ago and found a local guy that would remove the hive for free. He found the hive in a hollowed out tree in a vacant lot next door. He mentioned to my sister that there was a natural repellant they could use but she instead opted to have them removed. I don't recall what that natural repellant was but you might contact a local bee keeper if you can find one and ask him.

Jill · Answer

First off, carpenter bees are harmless. Males cannot sting because they have no stingers. Females have stingers, but very rarely even attempt to do so. Carpenter bees are losing their ground. They bore holes into wood to next into. It is unwise to exterminate them if you can help it because more and more of them are disappearing in large numbers and they are considered to be the pollinators for the agriculture community. They do also make honey like honeybees. They need a home to nest in that isn't going to bother your child(ren). They can easily be attracted to the newer home by building one. Simply build a large box about 4' deep and fill the box with tubes cut from bamboo. You want the tubes to be small. Leave the ends open and they will happily nest in them. Keep this bee box in an area away from where kids will play, or where people hang out. To get the bees out of the kids play house, you can hire an exterminator (I hate seeing this one) or an apiarist move them. An apiarist will use smoke to drouze the bees and will collect them and move them. I don't recommend doing it yourself, but my dad would simply use a fire extinguisher late in the day to the same thing (providing there aren't too many of them), sweep them and move them far away near the new bee box. You can also use traps to remove them. Once you have gotten rid of them, there is a powder you can purchase to keep them from coming back. Then once treated simply paint the wood with several coats of paint so they cannot drill into it to next. Here are a few links regarding carpenter bees: http://insects.about.com/od/antsbeeswasps/a/How-To-Control-Carpenter-Bees.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpenter_bee http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7417.html http://www.qcidirect.com/Pest-Control/Insects/Carpenter-Bee-Trap.axd?utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=carpenter-bee-trap http://www.hgtvgardens.com/pests/the-buzz-on-carpenter-bees

Katrina Warren · Answer

@Jill I would hardly say that carpenter bees are harmless, they have done a lot of damage to the cedar siding on a house I own! @Nancy J. Godwin is your granddaughters playhouse natural wood without being painted? I have read that painting the wood / structure will stop the bees from boring their holes. I have not however actually tried it to see if it works as we like the natural cedar siding we have.

Lee Senat · Answer

We used to have them at our old house, we were told by an exterminator to fill the holes with wood putty then paint them white, the bees get confused and should fly away, this may take a few applications, but in the long run it does work, Good luck.

Philip · Answer

Spray carberator cleaner in the hole or around the area and they won't return

Kathy Ruth · Answer

http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/pest-repeller/carpenter-bee-trap-154411

Mary Lebrecht · Answer

We have had quite a problem with carpenter bees in our last house so i know more about them then i'd like to...Lol. They are totally different from honey bees or other bees that live in a hive together. They are very docile and won't bother people at all except for when they fight with each other and will actually fall on you at times. They don't sting , the only problem is with them making holes all through the wood around the house and then the woodpeckers coming and really messing up the wood. I don't know if they even make honey. There are ways to keep them around by making them bee houses out of a can or something filled with bamboo pieces to give them somewhere else to lay their eggs. We had to remove, replace and repaint a lot of the trim on our last house before we put it up for sale because of them.

What can be done about carpenter bees?

Carpenter Bee Trap

Suggested Project Book

3 Wreath Ideas To Brighten Up Your Front Door

Other

More

What can be done about carpenter bees?

Carpenter Bee Trap

Suggested Project Book