Bee Infestation
How To Deal With A Carpenter Bee Infestation
Many people assume that the bee infestation that they are plagued with in and around their homes are bumblebees however, most likely, they are actually carpenter bees. Unlike honeybees and bumblebees who are really only interested in your flowers, carpenter bees are happy to tunnel themselves in the walls of your home and do a bit of damage while they're at it.
This type of bee infestation is typically indicated by a nice visible saw dust mound right below an awning of your home or garage. Also, sometimes you can spot them by the yellowish-brown feces that accumulate near the nest on the wall. Other times, you may just notice them by the bombardment of noise that you hear when you get near the area.
Carpenter bees do not necessarily do a lot of damage to your home initially however, given a bit of time over a few seasons, they can chew a tunnel through the timber of your entire house. Therefore, it is really quite important that you deal with the issue immediately when your first notice the bee infestation.
Caulking Or Putty
If you know that the bees are inside the walls of your home and you prefer to not use any type of insecticide, you can plug up their entrances with putty or caulking. Interestingly, they typically will not attempt to make a different way out even if they become trapped inside. So, you can simply fill the holes and broken seals around windows and door frames and paint over them.
Insecticides
The most obvious way to get rid of a bee infestation is with an insecticidal spray that is designed specifically for them. Do not attempt using your household bug spray, you will only make them angry. These special formulated sprays are strong, kill on contact and have nozzles that allow you to shoot up to 15 feet away.
When you decide to spray this chemical, wait until late in the evening when there is minimal or no activity. If possible, spray it right into the hole of your house. You should wear protective clothing and eye wear as the chemicals can spray off the wall and back at you. Also, be very cautious of any wind. It is a good idea to only spray these when it is very still outside.
Hardwood, Paint And Vinyl Siding
To reduce your chance of a bee infestation, you should either paint your home regularly or install vinyl siding. Really, the vinyl siding is the only sure way to ensure that your home is not going to be damaged by bees. If you prefer paint, you really need to be sure that your home is offered a fresh coat regularly. Also, you should know that wood stain does not stop carpenter bees.
Polyurethane paint is highly recommended against carpenter bees. You should also be aware that they prefer softwoods that are untreated so any new extensions that are added to your home should be done only with treated hardwood.
Facts About Carpenter Bees
When identifying and dealing with a carpenter bee infestation, it is helpful to understand the species that you are at battle with.
- The entrance to a carpenter bee nest is always perfectly round.
- Some buildings that have had tunnels found in the walls from carpenter bees have been 10 feet long.
- Carpenter bees are very similar in appearance to large bumblebees. The biggest difference of the two is their abdomens. While the bumblebee has yellow hairs on their black abdomen, the carpenter bee does not. The carpenter bee is also much shinier.
- The male carpenter bee is very aggressive and territorial but he cannot sting. Only the females have a stinger.
- Carpenter bees do not actually eat the wood when they make holes which is why treatment does not stop or kill them.