Carpenter bees nest in the wood of your home, shed, or deck, jeopardizing their structural integrity.
Here’s how to get rid of them quickly.
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Bees arewelcome pollinatorsin any ecosystem.
Credit:Getty Images / AwakenedEye
However, when carpenter bees land on your home or garage, they can cause serious damage.
These bees are known for boring into wood to create tunnels and nest galleries.
Worse still,woodpeckers drill into the wood, hoping to feed on carpenter bees and their larvae.
Thus, effective carpenter bee removal and prevention are crucial to maintaining the integrity of wooden structures.
Here is how to get rid of carpenter bees before any damage is done.
Only female carpenter bees have a stinger, though they rarely sting unless grabbed or squeezed.
Unlike social bees, carpenter bees do not live in colonies.
Instead, they excavate tunnels in wood to create nests that they return to each year.
The tunnels can reach about 1/2 inch in diameter and can extend several inches into the wood.
What attracts carpenter bees?
Carpenter bees emerge in spring to mate.
They often choose untreated, unpainted, or weathered wood.
Sightings of large bees hovering around wooden structures, especially in spring and early summer, suggest nesting activity.
Also,increased woodpecker activityaround your home hints that carpenter bee larvae lay within the wood.
Once trapped, they can be relocated.
These houses lure the bees to nest there and return annually to lay eggs.
Create a citrus spray by filling a bottle with water and squeezing in fresh citrus fruits.
it’s possible for you to also boilcitrus fruit rindsin water for a more intense scent.
Spray the cooled solution into the bee holes and around the affected areas.
Insecticides
Getting rid of an established carpenter bee infestation may require a liquid or dust commercial insecticide.
Bees come into contact and carry it back to their nests, killing the larvae.
When carpenter bees come into contact with boric acid, it adheres to their bodies and is ingested.
Then, the boric acid disrupts the bees' digestive systems and metabolic functions.
This disruption leads to dehydration, starvation, and death of bees and larvae.
Plugging will also reduce moisture damage and wood decay.
Hiring a pest control service for severe infestations ensures the bees are eradicated safely and effectively.
Preventing carpenter bees from returning involves several proactive measures.
