The carpenter bee is a large bee that typically resembles the bumble bee. Unlike the bumble bee, they have a shiny abdomen with yellow hair only on the first segment of the abdomen area. An adult carpenter bee is large in size; they are approximately ¾ to 1 inch long. The male carpenter bee has a whitish colored spot on their head that looks like a nose. The male carpenter bee is very territorial, but does not have a stinger. While the female has a very potent stinger, but they typically do not sting very often. Like most bees, the carpenter bee is a pollinator, which means they are considered to be very beneficial to nature. Their habitat ranges from Kansas to Texas and east toward the Atlantic.
After adult carpenter bees emerge from the pupal stage in August and September, they feed and return to their nests for the winter. In April the carpenter bees emerge from their nests to mate. After mating, the female carpenter bees lay eggs in existing tunnels or construct new nesting tunnels to deposit their eggs. They make holes and openings in almost any wooden material they can find. They often make holes in fencing, siding, decks, outdoor furniture, and any wooden materials they can penetrate to make a hole. Even though they prefer natural untreated wood, they will sometimes attack stained or even painted wooden materials. Once the female carpenter bee chooses her nesting place, she will first make a hole about the size of her body, and then will burrow along the grain of the wood. The holes typically extend 4-6 inches in depth, while older nesting holes that have been reused multiple times can extend up to 9 or 10 feet within the wood, depending on the size of the wooden object. Discovering wood shavings or sawdust around the wooden materials is a strong sign of active carpenter bees.
Buzz Kill Bee & Wasp Control
Buzz Kill Pest Control understands the benefits of bees, including the carpenter bee. They are a pollinating insect, and contribute a large portion of the world’s agriculture and nature as a whole. Therefore, Buzz Kill Pest Control uses the latest technology and treatment options to rid and prevent your property of the initial infestation. We also provide an ongoing service to help protect you, your family, and your home from future infestations of bees and wasps. See our Bee & Wasp Control page for more information. You can also contact us today to schedule an appointment for your free pest control estimate.