Carpenter bees are the most active in the spring when they start looking for mates and begin building their nests. During the summer, the bees forage for food to feed the larvae. The new bees emerge in late summer and spend their time foraging for food before the weather starts to cool. They do not like the cold winter and will return to the nest to hibernate until spring.
The bees are not usually aggressive and will not go out of their bother people or pets. Only the females have stingers and will only attack if they are bothered. The males are aggressive toward each other. They will also fly around people and animals who get too close. They do not carry diseases but their sting does hurt.
The carpenter bee is a helpful pollinator and is responsible for helping to pollinate farms and gardens throughout the region. So, what is the problem with carpenter bees? They can cause severe structural damage to homes and other buildings. Their tunnels weaken rafters and other interior wooden structures.
WHAT DO
CARPENTER BEES
LOOK LIKE?
Carpenter bees are often confused with other bees. However, carpenters have a few distinguishing features to help with identification. First, as far as bees go, carpenter bees are large bees. They are approximately one inch in length. The carpenter bee has a shiny, smooth, dark blue-blackish abdomen. The thorax has orange, yellow, and white hairs. The legs are black and hairy. Their wings are translucent but have a brown hue when in the light.
The female and male carpenter bees look almost alike. They do have one feature difference to help tell them apart. The female bees have black heads with no markings. The male's head is back with tiny white markings. The female also had a stinger; the male does not.
WHERE DO
CARPENTER BEES
LIVE?
Carpenter bees are not social bees meaning they create individual nests and commonly encountered in Langhorne.They do not build the traditional paper nests that other bee species build. Instead, they make their nests in unprotected, weathered, softwoods. The bees prefer places like inside the walls of houses, attics, wooden decks, trees, wood piles, eaves, and sides of structures.
The entrance to the nest is approximately a ½ inch circle. The female will first make a tunnel, which is one or two inches long. She, then, makes a 90-degree turn to extend the tunnel for a few feet. It is in this part of the tunnel that she creates her egg chambers.
It takes a lot of time for the female to dig her tunnels. For this reason, females often return to the same tunnel year after year. She will make additions to the tunnels if needed.
Newly hatched bees will spend the winter inside their nests. They will emerge in the spring when it's time to find a mate and reproduce. At this time, they also look for places to make their nests. Often, they build their nests near the nests they hatched from. Females will start the nesting process all over again.
CARPENTER BEES
EAT?
Carpenter bees need protein, carbohydrates, and water to survive. Their protein source is pollen, and they get their carbohydrates from nectar. Their favorite food sources include daylilies, zinnias, salvia, and oregano. They drink the morning dew and will also get water from puddles. Carpenter bees cannot live long without food. If they get trapped inside, they will die within 24 hours. Carpenter bee larvae eat what is called bee bread. Bee bread is regurgitated nectar.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY
CARPENTER BEES
Carpenter bees do not eat wood, but that does not stop them from creating a lot of damage. They make tunnels in wood to create nesting chambers for their eggs. It starts innocently enough. One female bee makes one hole, and most of the time that hole will go unnoticed.
Over time; however, the offspring will make their entry points and nesting chambers. Soon a large population of bees will be living within the house or structure. The structural wood will eventually become damaged causing a threat to the integrity of the home or other buildings. If the wooden beams and rafters are weakened by holes and tunnels, it could lead to structural failure and collapse.
The sawdust created by the bees can cause the ventilation system to become clogged. The exterior edging, trim, and siding can become unsightly due to holes and stains from the waste products of the bees. Outdoor wooden decks can become weakened from the nests.
ARE
CARPENTER BEES
AGGRESSIVE?
Male carpenters are territorial, and it is their job to protect the nest. They will fly around people or animals that get too close. Their actions may look aggressive, but the males do not have stingers. They can become nuisances though. The bees will dive-bomb people and fly around their faces until they leave the area. The males are also aggressive towards each other. The males protecting their territory will fight other male bee intruders in mid-flight. The bees put on a show while fighting. They will even head-butt each other.
The female carpenters have stingers; however, they are not aggressive. The females tend to stay close to their nest. Unless the bee feels threatened or handled, it will not sting. They do have the ability to sting more than once and their sting does have venom. If a female is near it is best to be still until she flies away.
DO
CARPENTER BEES
CARRY DISEASE?
Carpenter bees do not carry diseases, but the female does have venom in her stinger. Getting stung by a female will hurt, especially since she can use her stinger more than once. Not all people react to stings in the same manner. It could be a mild reaction in one person, while others can have severe reactions. A mild reaction could cause a red, swollen lump and sharp pain at the sting location. The pain will subside within hours and the swelling and redness will dissipate. Use ice and pain relievers to treat a mild reaction. Signs of a severe reaction include dizziness, nausea, hives, and breathing problems. Seek medical attention for severe reactions.
HOW TO DETECT
CARPENTER BEES
Signs of a bee problem include:
• Locating perfect nickel size holes in wooden surfaces and sawdust around the holes • Hearing buzz or chewing noises in the home • Spotting yellow or moldy-looking stains on walls or sides of structures • See bees flying around small openings in wood or walls • Unexplained sawdust on the deck or other wood furniture
HOW TO PREVENT
CARPENTER BEES
• Use hardwoods for exterior construction or outdoor furniture. Carpenter bees prefer softwoods for their nest, including pine, redwood, cypress, and cedar. • Fill in cracks and holes in wood surfaces. Carpenter bees have no problem using existing cracks and holes in wood surfaces as a starter hole, instead of starting the hole themselves. • Varnish, paint, or treat any exterior wood to deter the bees from starting a nest. • Use noise as a deterrent. Hang wind chimes or play music near the nest. The noise and the vibration could persuade the bees to leave the nest. • Prevent planting their favorite flowers around the home, decks, or other wooden structures. • In the early spring, spray wood and other favorite spots with citrus or almond oil. Carpenter bees find the smell offensive.
HOW TO TREAT FOR BEES
Newtown Termite & Pest Control understands how vital bumble bees and honey bees are to the local ecosystem. As such, we recommend contacting a local bee keeper for the safe removal of bumble bees and honey bees from area homes and businesses.
At the same time, we also utilize a multi-faceted approach for treating problematic species. Our methodology involves making use of the most appropriate detection, prevention, and treatment methods available. By combining these measures, we ensure that your home or business remains free of wasps, hornets, and carpenter bees.
