Wood Bees, Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees get their name from their ability to drill through wood and nest in the hole.  Their drilling creates a near-perfect hole, approximately 1/2 inch in diameter.  The hole is usually located on the underside of the wood surface; including siding, soffits, decks, overhangs, fence posts and window frames.   Although the hole appears to be only an inch or two deep, it rarely ends there.  

• The female carpenter bee will turn 90 degrees and bore a channel from 6 inches to as long as 4 feet.  This channel serves as a main corridor from which she will drill small chambers a few inches deep.  These chambers become egg holders.  She will deposit an egg, bring in a mass of pollen for the newly hatched larvae to feed on, and then seal it all off to ensure it's development before she repeats the process for the next egg.

• The male spends most of his time flying around the nest playing guard.   This is ironic as nature has left him ill prepared: he has no stinger!  Only the female can sting.  Simply killing the male will not solve your problem.  You must treat the nest.

Wood Bee, Carpenter Bee Elimination   
Killing Carpenter Bees, Wood Bees in Cedar Homes

Household Pest Control

wood bees