Can a Carpenter Bee Cause Damage? How Do You Get Rid of Bees & Keep them Away in The Hills, TX?

There are many types of bees, and chances are, you have met a number of them. Some bees such as carpenter bees are very active from early spring through summer around houses and other wooden structures, just when you are spending more time outside. Since there are so many different species of bees, it can be hard to know what one you are dealing with. Carpenter bees can look a lot like other species, but A-Tex Pest Management is here to help you recognize whether or not you are dealing with them.

How Can You Tell if You have Carpenter Bees?

Carpenter bees look very similar to a bumblebee. Bumblebees, however, are very fuzzy, and carpenter bees are large black and yellow bees, with a shiny, smooth, black abdomen. Another big difference between the two is their demeanor. Bumblebees are quite aggressive, and will sting you without being provoked. Carpenter bees, on the other hand, will only sting as a last resort. Female carpenter bees are the only ones that even have the option of stinging, since males don’t even have a stinger. Carpenter bees are given this name because they drill holes in wood to build their nests. The perfectly round hole they drill to build their nests is a sign that you have a problem with carpenter bees.

How Much Damage Can Carpenter Bees Cause?

It usually takes quite a long time for carpenter bees to cause enough damage that your structure isn’t considered sound. The damage is going to depend on the length of time they have used your wooden structure as a home for their nests. They prefer to build their nest in untreated wood and woods that are considered soft wood. Some of the damage you can expect to see from carpenter bees is:
Structural Damage– This is the biggest risk that comes with carpenter bees. They usually bore a hole in the wood about 2 inches deep and make a 90 degree turn and continue on for about 2 feet. This can go on and on depending on how many bees are living in there. It only gets worse with time.
Water Damage– Because carpenter bees have built their nests and created holes throughout your wooden structures, water can easily enter their tunnels. This will speed up any damage caused by water or moisture.
Stains– Carpenter bees leave behind fecal matter that will end up staining your wood.

How Do You Know if You have Carpenter Bees?

Signs that you have carpenter bees may include:
Sawdust– You will most likely be able to see sawdust around the hole after the bee has hollowed out the wood for their nest.
Rustling– You can often hear the bees working inside the wood. The sounds are often similar to scraping sounds.
Stains– You will be able to visibly see fan-shaped stains on the wood from their feces.

How to Keep Carpenter Bees Away

The biggest thing you can do to prevent carpenter bees from making a nest in your deck or other wooden structures, is to paint, stain, or use treated wood. The likely-hood that they will choose wood that has been treated in some way is very rare. You can also look into other siding and trim options other than wood. This might include aluminum or vinyl. Filling in any cracks in your wood is a great way to avoid them as well. They will often be drawn to weaknesses in the wood to more easily build their nests.

Stinging Insect Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas

If you have a carpenter bee problem that is relentless, it is time to call the professionals. A-Tex Pest Management has pest control technicians that can effectively and completely rid you of carpenter bees and put your mind at ease. You don’t want to end up spending large amounts of money to repair structural damage caused by these pests. Call today for an appointment!

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