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Carpenter Bees

How to identify
Carpenter bees are large robust insects that look much like bumblebees. They have a bare shiny black abdomen (bumblebees have a hairy abdomen with yellow markings). Male carpenter bees, identified by the bright yellow spot in the middle of the head, are aggressive but lack stingers. Females can sting if antagonized.

Carpenter Bees ruin our homes
Carpenter bees cause extensive damage to wood soffits, fascia, log homes and other wooden members. If not thwarted, they actually burrow right into our homes, boring holes as large as 1/2" round in wood to create tunnels in which to raise their young. Left unchecked, they continue to produce new offspring and infest our homes.

Over-the-counter treatments may kill adult carpenter bees - but they are unable to penetrate deep into their galleries where immature bees develop.

How to limit the conditions that attract or support Carpenter Bees

Replace infested wood with treated lumber.
Several coats of paint or varnish discourage boring.
Wood stains or sealants usually do not prevent tunneling.
Seek professional assistance and consider an ongoing, preventive program.

Buffalo Exterminating is tough on Carpenter Bees
There are several options to eliminate carpenter bee problems:

Deep injection treatment of individual nesting tunnels is necessary for initial control.
Periodic application of commercial-grade repellent insecticides to susceptible wood surfaces deter boring and tunneling.
Holes may be plugged in the fall to deter future nesting. This service may require additional charges.

Preventive Maintenance
Buffalo Exterminating's Preventive Maintenance program helps prevent further problems with carpenter bees nesting in and around your structure. Three services between May and October around the outside perimeter of your structure help deter carpenter bees before they become established.

More information
Left unchecked, Adult carpenter bees emerge from over-wintered sites in old nest tunnels to mate in the spring. The female prepares a nest by boring a new tunnel in wooden structures or more frequently by cleaning out and expanding an existing one. Tunnels run from several inches to ten feet in length. After the nest is ready, she places a mass of pollen mixed with nectar in the back of the tunnel, lays an egg on it, and builds a partition of chewed wood pulp to form a brood cell. Six to eight brood cells are constructed in each tunnel. Bee larvae develop on the pollen/nectar mix and emerge as adults 30 to 40 days later in the late summer. Carpenter bees prefer soft wood, such as California redwood, cedar, white pine, or poplar.