Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees are often mistaken for bumble bees, as they are similar in size and color, and are frequently seen in the spring hovering around the eaves of a house or under decks or porch rails.

Identification

• ½-1″ long

• Robust appearance

• Thorax is fuzzy and yellow, abdomen is a shiny black color

• Males have a white patch on the face

Environment

• Carpenter bees make nests by tunneling into wood, usually with only one entry hole but several tunnels within

• Entry holes are usually perfectly circular, about 16mm in length (.63 inches)

• Do not eat wood; it’s discarded or re-used to build partitions within tunnels (leaving sawdust on surfaces beneath the nest)

• Feed on plant nectar

Threats

• Homes with wooden decks, eaves, or other areas of exposed wood are likely targets for carpenter bee damage

• Males do not have stingers but can be aggressive to other bees, animals, or people near the nest

• Females can sting but rarely do unless agitated

Treatment

• Galleries can be treated with an insecticidal dust

• Galleries should be sealed in the fall (when they are no longer active)

• Untreated wood should be painted or sealed to discourage nesting behaviors

• Bees are protected as pollinators, so treatment is only enacted when the bees are deemed a nuisance