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CARPENTER BEE PREVENTION
Looking to get rid of carpenter bees? Carpenter bees prefer bare wood, so painting and staining wood can sometimes help deter them. However, they will sometimes attack stained or painted wood, so contact a pest control professional for proper carpenter bee control. Homeowners should also routinely inspect wood on the property for signs of a carpenter bee infestation, including round, smooth holes.
Carpenter bees look like typical bumblebees but often lack yellow stripes. This type of stinging bee gets its common name from its habit of boring into wood like a carpenter.
Habits
Unlike bumble bees, carpenter bees are solitary insects. The adult carpenter bees hibernate over winter, typically in abandoned nest tunnels and emerge in the spring to feed on nectar.
Habitat
Carpenter bees do not live in nests or colonies. Instead, female carpenter bees bore circular holes through soft wood to lay eggs and protect their larvae as they develop.
Threats
Carpenter bees are a serious property threat, as they can cause structural damage over time if left untreated. Male carpenter bees can be territorial and may hover in front of one’s face aggressively, but they have no stinger and these actions are merely for show. Female carpenter bees do have a potent stinger, but it’s rarely used.
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CARPENTER BEES XYLOCOPA SPECIES
Pest Stats
Color:
Yellow or black
Legs
6
Shape
Oval and robust
Size:
1/4 – 1 inch long
Flight:
Yes
Antennae:
Yes
Region:
All 50
States:
All 50
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