Carpenter Bees

What Is The Carpenter Bee?

As long as bees have been around most people think they know everything they need to know about the insect. Indeed, most people do know quite a bit about the bee, but things get a bit trickier when you start talking about different insects. For instance, the carpenter bee, unlike other bees, are a solitary bunch. The largest of the bees can range anywhere from ½ inch to 1 ½ inch. The males of the species are black and orange, whereas the females are solid black. It wouldn’t be unimaginable for some to mistake the carpenter bees as a bumblebee. And, this is because they are extremely similar in appearance. However, the major difference comes in with the abdomen. The carpenter bee’s abdomen is black and shiny while the bumblebee is classified as harry.

Why Do People Have Carpenter Bees?

Carpenter bees are just as opportunistic as the human. They’ll jump on the chance to eat, live, and drink. Whatever is necessary for their survival, they’ll do it. These are the three main reasons they are found on properties. They are either looking for a place to shelter nearby food or nearby water. As far as shelter goes, things get a bit confusing with this species. They don’t prefer hard, solid wood as you would think. Instead, they opt for the unpainted, unstained, and weathered wood. This is both a good and bad thing. They build tunnels in the wood. These areas are oftentimes attached to porches, decks, and sheds. What’s even more interesting is, these bees hibernate during the winter to avoid winter weather, but will return to the same nest every year if the problem isn’t fixed.

If you don’t do anything to prevent their appearance, you can expect to see them year after year.

Are Carpenter Bees Dangerous?

It probably doesn’t come as a huge surprise that carpenter bees sting. Just about every bee stings. What it comes down to is the aggression level. Carpenter bees aren’t overly aggressive and won’t normally sting until they feel threatened or like their territory is being encroached on. They usually fly around the entrances of their nests, protecting them to the fullest. The females also have stingers and usually won’t even sting when approached. That’s just how docile they are as a species. This doesn’t mean they won’t sting, it’s just extremely rare. If this does happen, one should seek medical attention immediately. Their venom has been known to cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals.

Another interesting thing to note is, these species attract woodpeckers, and woodpeckers, in turn, attract snakes. Woodpeckers are drawn to carpenter bee’s nests because they feed on their larvae. Woodpeckers not only attract snakes, but they can do immense amounts of damage to wooden structures. Structures where they will already be because that is where the carpenter bee’s nest will be located.

How Can I Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees?

You likely don’t need a pest management professional to stress the importance of eliminating carpenter bees. They are not only structurally hazardous, but they draw woodpeckers and sting. In addition to all this, they come back year after year to the same nesting location. Simply put, you’ll want to get rid of these critters as quickly as possible. You don’t want them hanging out for extended periods. The only problem is, elimination can be tricky. And, this is because they usually sting when one approaches. They’ll feel threatened. Regardless, this is why removal is a situation best left for someone professionally equipped for the task.

Can I Eliminate Carpenter Bees?

Unfortunately, we cannot recommend trying to remove carpenter bees from the property. This is because it could be extremely dangerous. You might end up being allergic to the bee’s sting and one interaction with the venom might send you straight to the hospital. There have been some deadly reported incidents with these bees and their sting. This is not something you want to go through. All that aside, eliminating carpenter bees usually requires the administration of chemicals. Chemicals that can be dangerous and illegal in the wrong hands. It’s just a situation best left to the pros.

However, if you want to do something, you can wait until the winter until the bees are gone from the nests and paint them or stain them. You learned that carpenter bees prefer unstained and unpainted weathered wood. There is no guarantee this will work and you have to be extremely careful because there could be some stragglers left behind, but this is worth a shot.

Are There Safer Alternatives?

When it comes to carpenter bees, there are natural, safer treatments available. The only problem is, these treatments aren’t always effective. Heck, they aren’t always viable in every situation either. This is something we can determine when we send out an assessor. He or she can evaluate the property and determine whether or not you qualify for our alternative treatments. While not as effective as our commercial-grade chemicals, we try to offer these solutions whenever possible. When we do utilize pesticides, we do so with the utmost care and professionalism, only utilizing techs that are trained and equipped to safely handle the chemicals.

When Can You Get Here?

There is no denying that we stay busy all year round. You combine this with the fact that we handle a wide range of other pests as well, and you can imagine how we stay so busy. Regardless, we are here for you. All you have to do is give us a call, set up an appointment and we’ll get someone to you within the next 24 to 48 hours. If you do need immediate medical attention, we do have those services available as well. Whatever the situation is, you can rely on us. Just pick up the receiver and give us a call and we’ll jump right on the situation. We know pests can be a pest and we want to help you eliminate them from the property as quickly as possible!

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