Like most bees, carpenter bees benefit their natural habitat. They’re excellent pollinators due to the way they remove grains from flowers. They are especially skilled at pollinating eggplants and tomatoes. Unfortunately, once they enter people’s homes, they become destructive. They can cause significant damage to wooden structures. If you believe you have a carpenter bee problem, here’s what you should do:

Identifying Carpenter Bees

The first step to getting rid of carpenter bees is to make sure you have them in the first place. If you’re able to see the bees, look at their size. Carpenter bees look very similar to bumble bees, but they can be anywhere from 1.5x to 2x the size of one. 

What they leave behind is often easier to spot than the bees themselves. You may find circular openings in wood measuring .5 inches to 1 inch wide with sawdust or wood shavings nearby, a yellow substance near your door on the inside or outside, or bees flying around the area you suspect is infested. 

Potential Damage Caused by Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees damage wood while tunneling to build nesting “galleries.” This is where they lay their eggs. The holes on the outside look small, but the actual galleries can be quite large, up to several feet wide. Females tend to return year after year to continue building these structures. As more carpenter bees populate the area, they can attract woodpeckers, who also burrow into the wood while seeking their next meal. 

Prevention Measures

Keeping carpenter bees away mostly involves maintaining the wood structures in your home. These are some steps you can take to avoid an infestation:

• Plug up carpenter bee holes using plugs, putty or caulk, after the bees have vacated. Paint over the wood for additional protection.
• Paint or varnish exposed wood surfaces around your home, including windowsills, decks, fences, eaves, doors and railing. Wood handled tools and wooden lawn furniture should also be treated to avoid wood-destroying pests.
• Cover exterior openings to your home with mesh screens or caulk.

Natural Remedies for Getting Rid of Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees can be beneficial to the environment, so you may want to consider avoiding harsh chemicals when driving them away. Here are some common natural ways to get rid of carpenter bees:

• Build a carpenter bee trap around the hole in the wood.
• Spray non-toxic liquids like citrus oil or almond oil solutions around the hole. 
• Play loud music next to the infestation area to cause unpleasant vibrations for 2-3 days, then fill the holes as soon as they leave. 

Chemical Solutions for Carpenter Bees

Since carpenter bees prefer solitude, smaller infestations don’t always require professional intervention. You may be able to use bee sprays on and around the holes in the wood, or apply insecticidal dust to the affected wood. The best time to do these treatments is late in the summer before the bees go into hibernation. 

When to Call the Professionals

If any of the above options haven’t worked for you, or if you can clearly see that you have a large infestation, call a professional pest control company. They will know the best ways to take care of carpenter bees and keep them away from your home. 

Dealing with a wood-destroying insect infestation is never fun, and carpenter bees can be especially damaging. If you have carpenter bees in your home, the Omaha pest control professionals at Pro-Staff can help. Call us at 515-279-7378 or contact us online for a free inspection.