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Carpenter Bees

What do carpenter bees look like?

Carpenter bees are a solitary bee species that are generally black and yellow and have an overall fuzzy appearance. At first glance, they appear similar to bumblebees; but after a closer look, it can be seen that, unlike bumblebees they lack stripes and have a smooth hairless abdomen.

Carpenter bees are a large species of bee – adults can grow to be ¼ to 1 inch in length. They have a stocky oval shaped body.

carpenter bee in greenville south carolina

Are carpenter bees dangerous?

Female carpenter bees have a stinger; however, the good news is that they are very docile and rarely ever sting. Caution should still be taken around them because their venom is strong enough to cause an allergic reaction in people. Males are very aggressive but do not have a stinger.
 
Carpenter bees are considered to be dangerous to wooden structures; the tunnels and galleries that they create in the wood can cause the structures to weaken over time. Carpenter bee tunnels are also often attacked by woodpeckers who are trying to feed on the eggs inside leading to even more structural damage.

Signs of carpenter bees

There are a few signs that carpenter bees leave behind to help identify their presence on your property.

  • Finding a hole about the diameter of a dime in wood that looks like it has been expertly drilled.
  • Noticing piles of excavated wood located underneath the hole. Carpenter bees do not eat the wood; they tunnel through it.
  • Seeing a single bee (usually a male) buzzing around and aggressively guarding the hole.

Where do carpenter bees nest?

Carpenter bees prefer to create their tunnels and galleries in softwoods that are unpainted, unstained, and weather-beaten. Carpenter bees generally choose decks, roof soffits, sheds, porches, wooden outdoor furniture, and wooden play structures to nest in.

How do you get rid of carpenter bees?

The best way to safely and completely eliminate a carpenter bee infestation and prevent a re-infestation is to get help from a professional.

Spencer Pest Services can get rid of carpenter bees from your property through our expert carpenter bee control services. Our pest control professionals have the experience and training needed to find and eliminate all of the carpenter bees nesting on your property. Contact us today for more information about our carpenter bee control services.

carpenter bee prevention tips

The best way to help prevent problems with carpenter bees on your property is to insure that any softwood that has been used to create structures on your property has been painted or stained; carpenter bees prefer to attack weathered, unpainted softwoods. Also, if possible, use hardwoods to build structures on your property instead of softwoods.
 
For more information about how Spencer Pest Services can eliminate carpenter bees from your property in Greenville or elsewhere in the Upstate of South Carolina, Northern Georgia, or North Carolina, call us today.

Helpful carpenter bee articles

How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees