Stories From The HiveWhen you think of bees, you probably think of honey bees or bumblebees—the cuter, more desirable variety of stinging insects. Although you might not mind them hanging around your property, you can tolerate their presence as long as their hive isn’t nearby. The same can’t be said for carpenter bees.
Carpenter bees are solitary. Unlike honey bees, they don’t live with one another in colonies. Only female carpenter bees have stingers, and they don’t sting unless agitated. However, carpenter bees can cause serious property damage. Carpenter bees will bore holes into wood so they can lay their eggs and protect their larvae. If left unchecked, they may weaken the structural integrity of your home, which could be very costly in a variety of ways.
Obviously, carpenter bee removal is a must if you discover their presence on your property, but you might not know a lot about carpenter bee removal if you’ve never needed it before. Here’s what everyone should know about carpenter bee removal:
- The first step is identification. You won’t know you need carpenter bee removal unless you know what they look like, or you see the evidence around your home. This might include sawdust piles, excrement stains around holes, or seeing one of these bugs in your house. Carpenter bees are about an inch long. They resemble bumblebees but have a shiny, hairless abdomen.
- Leave it to the professionals. You need someone with the right skills, experience, and protective equipment to provide carpenter bee removal. They’ll be able to provide the most effective results and do so safely.
- Prevention is important. Once the carpenter bees have been removed, you should do what you can to prevent their return. Paint your wood surfaces, as carpenter bees prefer to bore into soft, unpainted wood.