You may see some hovering bees near your wooden deck or under the wooden eaves of your house. They may look like the ever-popular bumblebees, but they are actually carpenter bees.
Why are they called carpenter bees, though? Is it because:
Carpenter bees or the Xylocopa virginica get their name from their knack of drilling holes on wood. Unlike termites that drill holes on wood for consumption, carpenter bees don’t eat the wood. They only use it for shelter.
They clean out old tunnels and enlarge them in preparation for their offspring. Female carpenter bees leave out pollen balls or "bee bread" - a mixture of regurgitated nectar and pollen. They then lay eggs near the pollen ball and seal off the chamber with chewed on wood. They repeat the process until they have made chambers for all the eggs, usually making six to seven cells. When the egg hatches, the pollen ball serves as food for the larvae. In approximately five to seven weeks, the young bees develop and the whole cycle repeats. When their home has been used for several generations, the tunnels expand and reach several feet in the wood.
The holes drilled by carpenter bees usually don't do much harm unless they have been used and reused for several years. Those which have active carpenter bees for a long period of time tend to have more tunnels and chambers resulting for the wood to be mostly hollow and frail. The chambers weaken the structure just as termites and carpenter ants do to other wooden structures.
Carpenter bees also tend to defecate before entering their homes, so there may be a lot of bee discharge below the entry of the home. It can cause staining of the area, and may even damage it to some extent. The infested wood may also attract woodpeckers. The woodpeckers in turn can damage the wood in its search for carpenter bee larvae.
If you do not want to go through the hassles of exterminating the bees yourself, then you can always seek the help of a professional exterminator. They are more experienced in dealing with different kinds of insect trouble and may even teach you how to prevent additional problems.
When wood has already been previously infested, prevent further infestation by plugging the entrance hole with steel wool when you are sure that there are no longer any bees and bee larvae left inside. You can always match it to the wood surface with caulk or putty, then stain or paint it as needed.
Carpenter bees are inclined to making nests in the purer forms of wood. They tend to stay away from treated wood so it's a good bet to stain or paint your wood surfaces early on.
Some smells tend to discourage carpenter bees. One of the natural options is a citrusy smelling spray. You can make your own by combining the rinds of different citrus fruits and boiling them in a pot of water. When it has cooled down, put it in a spray bottle and spray the nests of the carpenter bees generously. Another alternative is using almond essence or almond oil. Both citrus oils and almond oil can dissuade bees from making their homes in that wood surface again.
Carpenter bees, although helpful, may also cause damage. They can always have their homes in the trees, and not in your house. Preventing them from invading the wooden parts of your home may save your from the hassle of getting rid of Carpenter bees and not force you to do them any harm either. You can do your part by treating wood, so both you and the bees won't have to cause each other unnecessary trouble anytime soon.
Why are they called carpenter bees, though? Is it because:
- They cause the same ruckus as that of carpenters
- They simply look like carpenters
- They make their own homes from drilling holes on wood
Carpenter bees or the Xylocopa virginica get their name from their knack of drilling holes on wood. Unlike termites that drill holes on wood for consumption, carpenter bees don’t eat the wood. They only use it for shelter.
How Carpenter Bees Work and their Life Cycle
To getting Rid of Carpenter Bees then know more about it - Carpenter bees use their jaws to hollow out a half-inch diameter round hole at about an inch deep against the wood grain.The bee then digs perpendicularly and creates tunnels along the wood grain. Young adult bees use these tunnels to hibernate for the winter. They emerge around April or May and mate in spring. They then prepare their home for their young.They clean out old tunnels and enlarge them in preparation for their offspring. Female carpenter bees leave out pollen balls or "bee bread" - a mixture of regurgitated nectar and pollen. They then lay eggs near the pollen ball and seal off the chamber with chewed on wood. They repeat the process until they have made chambers for all the eggs, usually making six to seven cells. When the egg hatches, the pollen ball serves as food for the larvae. In approximately five to seven weeks, the young bees develop and the whole cycle repeats. When their home has been used for several generations, the tunnels expand and reach several feet in the wood.
Carpenter Bees and the Damage They Cause
Reason for Getting Rid of Carpenter Bees - Carpenter bees are not an aggressive type of bee, so there is not much of an actual threat. The male carpenter bees do not sting, although they can be territorial. They just hover around their territory and dart after other bees, insects, animals, and even humans who venture way too close to their homes. The female carpenter bees are the ones who have stingers but they don't attack others unless they are severely threatened or handled.The holes drilled by carpenter bees usually don't do much harm unless they have been used and reused for several years. Those which have active carpenter bees for a long period of time tend to have more tunnels and chambers resulting for the wood to be mostly hollow and frail. The chambers weaken the structure just as termites and carpenter ants do to other wooden structures.
Carpenter bees also tend to defecate before entering their homes, so there may be a lot of bee discharge below the entry of the home. It can cause staining of the area, and may even damage it to some extent. The infested wood may also attract woodpeckers. The woodpeckers in turn can damage the wood in its search for carpenter bee larvae.
Getting Rid of Carpenter Bees
Although they are not as dangerous as their more aggressive cousins, carpenter bees may still cause damage to one's property. Getting rid of carpenter bees when a nest has been found is the key to preventing further damage.- Pesticide in its powder form is suggested to be best in getting rid of carpenter bees. The usual liquid pesticide may wear off quicker and may even lose its effect by the time the bees get the chance to reach it. Take great caution when handling any form of pesticide, though. Make sure to use gloves and a mask when using them. Also, make sure that the wind doesn't carry the insecticide towards you.
- Products like Boric Acid and Carbaryl dust or Sevin can be used on the bees nest. Petrol or diesel, a more accessible item, can also be sprayed at the entrance of the carpenter bees' nest. Take note, however, that petrol and diesel are flammable and the fumes can be harmful - so be extra careful when handling these. Make sure to wear protective gloves, masks, and goggles when using petrol. Also, make sure that the container used to spray on petrol is properly labeled and is not used for other things.
- A safer alternative to using pesticide and petrol is through loud noise. The carpenter bees are highly sensitive to noise or its vibrations. Place a speaker or boom box near the carpenter bees' nest to drive them out naturally. This is safer, you won't have to make or buy pesticides, and you only have to wait it out for results.
- Swatting out any active, visible bees can also help get rid of them. You get to see the results quickly and you can be sure that they really are gotten rid of.
If you do not want to go through the hassles of exterminating the bees yourself, then you can always seek the help of a professional exterminator. They are more experienced in dealing with different kinds of insect trouble and may even teach you how to prevent additional problems.
Tip!
It is suggested to do the extermination at night since bees are less active and are less likely to sting you. Use a light source that emits red light or just make one by taping red cellophane around a normal flash light. The bees tend not to see the red light, but you will still be able to see what you are doing.
If you need to exterminate at daytime, make sure to be extra careful. Use a protective bee suit and spray the bees with pyrethrum spray or those used in wasps and hornets to avoid being
Measures for Early Prevention and Further Infestation
Make sure that you've gotten rid of the carpenter bee larvae as well as the adult bees. Apply powder insecticide inside the nesting chambers so the new bees pass through them.Don't seal off the entrance hole so they are sure to pass through where you put the powder insecticide.When wood has already been previously infested, prevent further infestation by plugging the entrance hole with steel wool when you are sure that there are no longer any bees and bee larvae left inside. You can always match it to the wood surface with caulk or putty, then stain or paint it as needed.
Carpenter bees are inclined to making nests in the purer forms of wood. They tend to stay away from treated wood so it's a good bet to stain or paint your wood surfaces early on.
Some smells tend to discourage carpenter bees. One of the natural options is a citrusy smelling spray. You can make your own by combining the rinds of different citrus fruits and boiling them in a pot of water. When it has cooled down, put it in a spray bottle and spray the nests of the carpenter bees generously. Another alternative is using almond essence or almond oil. Both citrus oils and almond oil can dissuade bees from making their homes in that wood surface again.
Carpenter bees, although helpful, may also cause damage. They can always have their homes in the trees, and not in your house. Preventing them from invading the wooden parts of your home may save your from the hassle of getting rid of Carpenter bees and not force you to do them any harm either. You can do your part by treating wood, so both you and the bees won't have to cause each other unnecessary trouble anytime soon.
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