CARPENTER BEES

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HAVING TROUBLE WITH CARPENTER BEES?

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Common Name: Eastern Carpenter Bee

Scientific Name: Xylocopa Virginica

PEST STATS

COLOR: Yellow or black
LEGS: 6
SHAPE: Oval and robust
SIZE: 1/4 - 1 inch long
ANTENNAE: Yes
REGION: Found throughout the U.S.

Carpenter Bee Pest I.D. Card
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INTRODUCTION

Carpenter bees look like typical bumble bees but often lack yellow stripes and their abdomen is largely bare and shiny. This type of stinging bee gets its common name from its habit of boring into wood like a carpenter to make galleries for rearing their young.

Carpenter bees are a solitary species of bee that get their name because they build tunnels and nesting areas inside of wood. One of the most common species that creates the most damage for property owners and that is found throughout most of the United States is Xylocopa Virginica (L). This species of carpenter bee can be found from Kansas south to Texas and eastward to the Atlantic.

HABITS

Unlike bumble bees, carpenter bees are solitary insects. The adult carpenter bees hibernate over winter, typically in abandoned nest tunnels and emerge in the spring to feed on nectar.

HABITAT

Carpenter bees do not live in nests or colonies. Instead, female carpenter bees bore circular holes through soft wood that is untreated or in need of re-treatment to lay eggs and protect their larvae as they develop. Common places that carpenter bees can be found building their nesting in are decks, porches, roof eaves, wood play structures, sheds, and wooden lawn furniture. It is important to note that carpenter bees do not eat the wood they are invading, they just tunnel through the wood removing the debris which then builds up in a pile outside of the entry hole.
Carpenter bees tend to either use the same galleries year after year or create new galleries in the same area year after year. This can lead to increased damage and can weaken the structural integrity of the place that they have invaded.

THREATS

Carpenter bees are a serious property threat, as they can cause structural damage over time if left untreated. Male carpenter bees can be territorial and aggressive and will defend their nesting sites by buzzing around and flying aggressively at the person or animals that they perceive as a threat. However they have no stinger and these actions are merely for show. Female carpenter bees do have a potent stinger, but are not very aggressive and rarely sting. Their venom is potent enough to cause an allergic reaction in some people.

PREVENTION

The best defense against carpenter bees is to make sure that any wood used to create a structure on your property has been stained or painted since they prefer to invade untreated wood. Also, any holes found in wood on your property should be sealed and the wood around the holes should be sanded smooth.

CONTROL

The best way to control and eliminate a carpenter bee infestation on your property is to get professional help. A Paske technician will come to your home and inspect your property finding and providing treatment for each individual entry hole and gallery. Our trained technicians will use an appropriately labeled residual insecticide and apply using aerosol injection systems, compressed air sprayers, or dust application equipment depending on the unique situation.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Carpenter Bees – from $150.

Large infestations of carpenter bees require an inspection and bid.

Prices are for standard size nests and normal levels of infestation.

WHAT IS THE WARRANT?

Our carpenter bee control and removal service comes with a thirty day warranty from the initial service date.

We also guarantee your complete satisfaction. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with our carpenter bee service, we will correct it free of charge. That’s Paske Pest Control & Wildlife Solutions promise to keep your home pest free.

SOURCES

http://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/stinging-insects/carpenter-bees/

HOW DO I SCHEDULE SERVICE?

You can either call us at (314)722-8080 or schedule service online.

Carpenter Bee Prevention

Looking to get rid of carpenter bees? Carpenter bees prefer bare wood, so painting and staining wood can sometimes help deter them. However, they will sometimes attack stained or painted wood, so contact a pest control professional for proper carpenter bee control. Homeowners should also routinely inspect wood on the property for signs of a carpenter bee infestation, including round, smooth holes.