When the weather warms up, you start to notice bees buzzing around your home. That’s expected for the season, but if you spot them flying around your roof, porch or any areas with exposed wood, you might be dealing with a carpenter bee infestation. If you have a bee problem, contact Eliminate ‘Em for same-day service to provide the carpenter bee removal you need!
Carpenter Bees vs. Bumble Bees
What’s the difference between this species and ordinary bumblebees? Carpenter bees are generally larger – about one inch long – and often have a metallic tint, especially on their abdomen. By contrast, bumblebees look hairier up close.
The visual distinctions only tell part of the story. Carpenter bees bore into wood, tunneling through it to lay their eggs. These paths range anywhere from just six inches into the wood to as much as four feet. From here, the queen lays its eggs and later brings in pollen for the larvae. Like bumble bees, carpenter bees still feed off nectar and pollen from nearby flowering plants.
Watch Out for Warning Signs to Prevent the Need for Carpenter Bee Exterminators
Considering the behavior of carpenter bees and their life cycle, certain factors may be attracting these pests to your property, making for the need of immediate carpenter bee control. To help, watch out for some warning signs that may prevent the need for a carpenter bee exterminator down the line.
Wooden Structures
When you leave an outdoor project half-completed or see varnish wear away, carpenter bees see a spot to begin making their tunnels. Typically, they go after any unfinished wood around or below your deck or sill, especially if it has cracks.
Before the season begins, you can take preventative measures to deter carpenter bees:
- Paint and Polyurethane: Bees are less likely to go after wood that has a coating, especially if it looks glossy.
- Pressure-Treated Lumber: Bees tend to go after ordinary wood and frequently avoid pressure-treated lumber.
- Siding: Don’t leave exposed wood outdoors unless it’s necessary. One option is to install siding over the wood – plastic, vinyl or aluminum material.
- Caulking: If you spot several cracks along your windows, porch or deck, seal them with a caulk gun.
Flowering Plants
Wood and flowering plants make the perfect living situation for carpenter bees. First, they can tunnel through your deck and feed in the garden afterward. Later, all those plants turn into a food source for their larvae.
As one way to make your property less attractive to bees, think about where you place your garden. Plants – especially flowering ones – should not be placed directly in front of your home or near a deck or any other wooden structures. Add some distance between your house and the garden.
Older Nests
A carpenter bee infestation isn’t always apparent, especially if you can’t see the tunnels or pests congregating below your deck. As a result, the bees continue to return to the same tunnels to feed and lay eggs, so the problem only gets worse with time.
Contrary to popular belief, simply plugging up the holes will not make the bees go away. They will chew through the putty or caulk and the infestation starts all over again.
Ignoring or attempting to fix the issue yourself could lead to minor structural damage down the line. Trust our professional carpenter bee exterminators to remove these pests from your property and clean up their tunnels. As your first line of defense, reach out to Eliminate ‘Em’s bee exterminators to make an appointment. Give us a call today!
