Carpenter bees derive their name from the fact that they build their nests in wood. Normally they will create their nests in dead trees. But, if they create their nest in your home, or other residential or business properties, they can cause structural damage that can actually make your structure unsound if they have been left alone long enough and not removed. These structures might actually have to be demolition actually cause millions of dollars worth of damage each year in southeast Florida.shed since they can make a structure unsafe to live in. In fact, carpenter bees
It May Look like a Bumblebee . . .
Carpenter bees are actually quite similar to bumblebees. They are about the same size as bumblebees and have similar colors, but they are not quite as fuzzy as bumblebees and their abdomen is shinier with fringes of hairs on some segments.
Creating Damage
Female carpenter bees will tunnel into decaying and also sound wood to make their nest. The tunnels are normally about half of an inch in diameter and about 6 to 10 inches deep. They are partitioned into many chambers with each chamber having pollen and eggs. Eventually tunnels can end up as long as 10 feet long, which is why carpenter bees can do some major damage when they build their nests in man-made structures. The tunnels are emptied after the bees complete their development, which can take about 3 months. Male carpenter bees cannot sting. While female bees can sting, they typically only do so when they’re provoked.
Managing the Problem.
Carpenter bees can cause a great deal of damage to wooden structures when they bore into them and can make your wooden structures look like Swiss cheese if left unchecked long enough. The best approach with managing carpenter bees is prevention. Since they prefer softer woods, the best construction method to deter these bees is to use hardwoods. It’s also a good idea to paint, varnish or treat exposed wood surfaces since they normally prefer bare untreated wood. You also want to fill in holes, depressions and cracks in your wood surfaces so that they don’t attract carpenter bees.
Can’t We Just Eliminate All of Them?
Carpenter bees are generally considered beneficial insects since they help pollinate both crop and non-crop plants their damage can normally be managed by the use of the preventative measures mentioned above. If the infestation is high or the risk of damage to structures is great, contact a pest control specialist like Slug-A-Bug to take care of your problem and do so immediately before too much damage has been caused to your building.