Insects and pests coming into contact with your home is a natural occurrence. There are way too many insects in the world to eradicate every one of them. Additionally, you wouldn’t want the ecosystem to be destroyed because insects were no longer available as a source of food for other animals. Bees are one of those insects that albeit a nuisance, they are vital to the success of our ecosystem. Keep in mind that there are a few species of bees and not all of them have the same task in the ecosystem. One of those bees is a carpenter bee. Are carpenter bees dangerous? Yes, they can do significant damage to the wood in your home and other wooden structures around your home.
Let’s take a look below at what carpenter bees are and how they can be kept away.
What Are Carpenter Bees?
There are three types of bees that often get confused with each other. Honey bees, Bumble bees, and Carpenter bees. Bumble bees are very social and live in the ground. They are also focused on flowers and not being aggressive. Honey bees are very furry with golden yellow to brown bands around their abdomen. Also, very social bees, they are aggressive and defensive.
Carpenter bees are not social bees at all and have shiny black bodies. They are solitary insects that prefer small groups and remain in the same area for many years. Male carpenter bees will give the perception that they are attacking you or your pet, however, they do not sting.
How Do I Know The Damage They Have Caused?
Typically, carpenter bees can be spotted in the Eastern United States. These wood-damaging insects are in search of soft, old trees, and reed-like plants that have soft interiors. Carpenter bees will seek out any type of wood that they can create a nest in.
They will drill a hole up to 1 inch deep. So, how do you know the hole was created by a carpenter bee? Let’s take a look below at what some carpenter bee damage looks like.
- Excrement or waste – You will be able to notice excrement stains on the wood below their holes.
- Sawdust pile – As the carpenter bee bores holes, you will notice a sawdust pile on and under the hole that it drilled.
- Perpendicular tunnels – You will notice tunnels that are 4 to 6 inches in length.
- Multiple tunnels – The female carpenter bees will create 6 to 8 tunnels so that they can lay their eggs.
- Exposure holes – You will notice that the exposure holes will be a precise 1/2 inch in diameter.
How Can I Prevent Carpenter Bees?
Preventing carpenter bees from getting access to the wood in and around our home can be a difficult task. However, just like any project, getting rid of carpenter bees or a carpenter bee infestation is difficult.
- Minimize the wood – Keep from using wood shakes, siding, eaches, shingles, and shutters. They are all open for a carpenter bees attack. Carpenter bee nests in wood that are exposed.
- Paint or Finish – Any wood that is exposed should be finished or painted to keep the bees from easy access.
- Build a house – Provide the carpenter bees with a pre-built home that they would prefer to access. These will have predrilled tunnels that are meant for nesting.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know how carpenter bees are dangerous to your home, you can look into how long termites live. They are another wood-destroying insect that can completely destroy your home. Knowing how long they live and how you can prevent them is key.
Next, another insect that can become a pest in your home is the earwig. It is recommended that you study if coffee grounds are preventative maintenance for earwigs.
Lastly, consider pest control if you don’t already have it. Read up on why pest control is worth it to protect the investment of your home. You don’t want an infestation to occur in your home. This could cost you a lot of money.
When Do I Call A Professional?
Finding out that you have carpenter bees is an immediate cause for concern. Consequently, your local pest control company can apply some insecticide to the holes created by the bees. Additionally, the bees will come back to the holes and make contact with the poison and die. Then you can fill in the holes and repaint. Consequently, your best bet is to call on your local pest control company.
Conclusion
Carpenter bees can be a nuisance for many homeowners. Additionally, you will want to call on your local pest control company right away. Also, the bees can eat up the wood in and around your home and cause some major structural damage. Reach out to AAA pest control to get your carpenter bees and other pest issues under control in Oakland Park, FL, and the surrounding South Florida areas.
