Protect Your Home from Carpenter Bees

Carpenter Bee Control from Ehrlich

Dealing with carpenter bee problems in your home

Although carpenter bees are considered very important for the pollination of trees and flowers, they can be a real nuisance in and around your home. Carpenter Bees are generally harmless to humans but can cause damage to structural wood elements.

Recognizing Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees emerge in the spring months to reproduce, build a nest and lay eggs.

Carpenter bees range from ¾ to 1 inch long and can often be detected hovering around the outside of your home. They resemble bumble bees, but the upper surface of their abdomen is hairless and shiny black.

Carpenter bees generally tunnel into wood to lay their eggs, creating “gallery” like damage to wood.

Common nesting sites are generally on the exterior and include fascia boards, eaves, window trim, deck posts and rails as well as wooden outdoor furniture.

Typical signs of Carpenter Bees in and around your Home are:

• Erratic flying – male carpenter bees are very territorial and fly erratically around humans to protect their nests.
• Noise – they emit a similar sound to bumble bees.
• Yellow/Brown stains – caused by excrement deposited below entry holes into wood.
• Damaged wood – the appearance of nearly perfectly round ½ in holes in wood , with piles of sawdust underneath the opening Carpenter bees do not eat wood, they excavate it to build their nests.
• Stings – the females are able to sting but only do so if intimidated.

How to keep Carpenter Bees away

You can take preventive measures to deter carpenter bee activity at your home, by:

• Ongoing maintenance including painting or varnishing exposed wood surfaces.
• Removing weathered or decayed wood exposed on the exterior of the building.
• Using pressure treated wood at exterior areas of the structure consistently exposed to moisture possible.
• Capping exposed wood with vinyl or aluminium.

How to get rid of Carpenter Bees

Gaining access to and treating carpenter bee activity can be challenging and it is best to seek out professional pest control services to deal with menacing carpenter bee problems...

Ehrlich technicians are skilled, experienced professionals – they are state certified, licensed applicators and are required to participate in regular training programs, to maintain their expertise. They understand the habits of each species and use that knowledge when developing a control program for your home. They also have respect for you, your home, your family and your time.

At Ehrlich Pest Control, we pride ourselves on fast, responsive service every day. We are always available 24 hours a day for any emergency pest concerns that may develop and all appointments are scheduled at times that are convenient for you, our customer. If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by an Ehrlich technician, call us free at .