Color: Black in color and marked with areas of yellow hair, but the dorsal sides of the abdominal segments have no areas of yellowish hair. Other species of carpenter bees, may be black, green or somewhat purplish in color and they are variously marked with whitish, yellowish or reddish hair.
Size: ¾'' – 1" (18-25 mm)
Carpenter bees galleries are the yellowish or brownish excrement stains created on the side of the home, below entrance holes to the galleries.
Common places Carpenter bees make nest viz; Siding, eaves, wooden shakes, porch ceilings, window sills, doors. They will also nest in telephone poles, fence railing or posts, lawn furniture. Softer wood are preferred. Unpainted or well-weathered wood is much more susceptible to attack than hardwood or well painted timbers.
The typical carpenter bee gallery has an entrance hole on the wood surface and continues inward for a short distance. It then turns sharply upward and runs in the same direction as the grain of the wood. These tunnels divided into cells where individual larvae will develop. The female provisions the galleries by inserting a ball of pollen on which an egg is laid. Live preys, such as insects or spiders are not used.
The female then closes the cell by placing a mass of wood pulp in the gallery. A series of cells are constructed as the bee works backward, out of the gallery. Females often enlarge existing galleries or use old ones, so very complex gallery systems can be developed over a number of years.
The male carpenter bee guards the outside of the nest and tries to chase away potential predators. He does not have a stinger, but still causes concern with his aggressive buzzing if people venture near the nest site.
Nectar, Pollen
Cuts 1/4"-1/2" tunnel at a 90 degree angle to entry hole, weakens lumber.
Carpenter bees prefer bare wood, so painting and staining wood can sometimes deter them. However sometime it does not offer the best solution.
- If the wood targeted by bees is treated with a residual pest control product, carpenter bees may be repelled or killed by the treatment.
- Once holes have been started, the nest galleries may be treated.
- The holes can be plugged several weeks later when it is positive that the bees have been killed.
Manufacturer Recommended Products And Treatment For Carpenter bees Control
Pests need food, water, and shelter. Often the problem may be solved just by removing these key items. Before even thinking about chemical pest control, it is important to be aware of
Conducive Condition | Recommendation | |
1 | Tree branches on house | Keep tree branches away from house to reduce pest access |
2 | Firewood next to foundation | Keep firewood away from house to reduce pest harborage |
3 | Debris on crawlspace/next to foundation | Remove wood debris to reduce termite ha rborage area |
4 | Excessive plant cover, stump, etc. | Providing spacing between plant cover and structure |
5 | Soil above the foundation Ii ne | Keep soil below top of foundation to reduce harbo rage areas |
6 | Wood-to-ground contact | Keep soil from touching wood to eliminate termite access |
7 | Debris on roof/full gutter | Keep gutter & roof free of debris to reduce insect harborage |
8 | Standi ng water near/under structure | Eli minate standing water to reduce pest harbo rage |
9 | Mo isture problem under structure | Increase ventilation to reduce pest harbo rage area |
10 | Openi ngs at plumbi ng & electronics | Seal opening to reduce pest access |
11 | Excessive gaps at windows/doors | Seal gaps to reduce pest access |
12 | Lea ky plumb ing fixtures | Repair to reduce moisture for pests |
13 | Keep garbage cans covered | Covered to reduce attraction of insects of vertebrate pests |
14 | Mo isture damage wood | Repair rotten or damaged wood to reduce insect harborage |
15 | Grocery bags stored improperly | Seal paper sacks in containers to reduce i nsect ha rborage areas |
16 | Pet food unsealed or left out | Keep pet food in sealed containers and unavailable to pests |
17 | Excessive storage conditions | Keep storage areas uncluttered and manageable |
18 | Debris below kick plates | Remove kick plates to reduce rodent harborage |
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