Carpenter bees? - Ask Extension
Hello. I own a house with quite a bit of wood trim. Therefore, I've been battling carpenter bees for years. What is the best way to get rid of carp...
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Carpenter bees? #867713
Asked May 09, 2024, 11:32 AM EDT
Hello. I own a house with quite a bit of wood trim. Therefore, I've been battling carpenter bees for years. What is the best way to get rid of carpenter bees, or at least keep them at bay. I'm willing to use insecticides if that is what it takes, but am open to non-toxic solutions if they really work!
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Hello,
These factsheets provide information on controlling carpenter bee infestations and prevention.
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef611
Some none insecticide options have included:
A non-insecticidal management approach is to deny carpenter bees access to their galleries by sealing each entrance hole. Thoroughly plug the hole with plastic wood, steel wool, or copper gauze and seal it with wood putty or a wooden dowel affixed with wood glue. If possible, first fill the entire gallery system with a sealant. Carpenter bee galleries are a critical resource, since the bees spend much of their time inside a gallery and they require its protective conditions to survive the winter. Bees that are trapped inside a sealed gallery typically will not chew out due to behavioral constraints. This barrier approach has promise for reducing future carpenter bee infestations in an area.
Keep all exposed wood surfaces well painted with a polyurethane or oil-based paint to deter attack by carpenter bees. Periodically inspect painted surfaces because the coatings will begin to deteriorate due to weathering, thereby exposing wood that the bees can easily attack. Wood stains will not prevent damage from carpenter bees. These bees do not damage non-wood materials including aluminum, asbestos, asphalt, and vinyl siding, and these can be used as alternatives to wood.
These factsheets provide information on controlling carpenter bee infestations and prevention.
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef611
Some none insecticide options have included:
A non-insecticidal management approach is to deny carpenter bees access to their galleries by sealing each entrance hole. Thoroughly plug the hole with plastic wood, steel wool, or copper gauze and seal it with wood putty or a wooden dowel affixed with wood glue. If possible, first fill the entire gallery system with a sealant. Carpenter bee galleries are a critical resource, since the bees spend much of their time inside a gallery and they require its protective conditions to survive the winter. Bees that are trapped inside a sealed gallery typically will not chew out due to behavioral constraints. This barrier approach has promise for reducing future carpenter bee infestations in an area.
Keep all exposed wood surfaces well painted with a polyurethane or oil-based paint to deter attack by carpenter bees. Periodically inspect painted surfaces because the coatings will begin to deteriorate due to weathering, thereby exposing wood that the bees can easily attack. Wood stains will not prevent damage from carpenter bees. These bees do not damage non-wood materials including aluminum, asbestos, asphalt, and vinyl siding, and these can be used as alternatives to wood.
