Big, bold, and buzzing—three innocuous words describing the frightening and seemingly “aggressive” force behind the Carpenter bee. Carpenter bees are one of the most feared springtime pests in the DMV. These three simple facts about them might surprise you.
Carpenter Bees Hovering Around My House: What To Do
As spring rolls around, you may start to notice some large, buzzing bees hovering around the outside of your house. These are likely carpenter bees, and while their presence can be alarming, there are some simple facts that may help put your mind at ease.
Carpenter bees get their name from their nesting habits – the females drill holes into wood to lay their eggs. They prefer weathered, unpainted wood and will return to the same sites year after year. The males emerge first in spring and will patrol the nesting areas waiting for females to emerge. During this time, they may hover in front of people or dart around erratically as they establish their territory.
While this behavior can seem aggressive, here are some truths about carpenter bees that may surprise you:
Male Carpenter Bees Don’t Sting
The males are simply trying to mate and establish a nesting territory for their potential offspring. While intimidating in their motions, male carpenter bees do not have a stinger and are harmless to humans. They may fly close to investigate motion, but cannot inflict any harm.
Females Are Not Aggressive
The female carpenter bees are capable of stinging, but seldom do unless handled or provoked. Their main goal is to bore tunnels in wood, lay eggs, and provision the next generation. The females are not aggressive and spend most of their time attending to nest duties.
Carpenter Bees Help Pollinate
While their nesting habits can damage wood structures, carpenter bees are important native pollinators. As they gather nectar and pollen from spring flowers, they contribute to the pollination of gardens and wild plants. Their role as pollinators helps support healthy ecosystems.
Prevent Damage by Maintaining Your Home
While carpenter bees naturally prefer weathered wood, you can deter them from nesting by keeping your home well-maintained. Use paint or protective stains to cover exposed wood surfaces, and make repairs as needed. Preventative measures will make your home less inviting for carpenter bees.
Inspect for Damage in Fall
Carpenter bee activity declines in summer, making fall the optimal time to inspect your home for damage. Look for round bore holes about the size of a pencil eraser, and accumulations of coarse sawdust. Damaged wood should be replaced. Holes and galleries can be sealed with caulk.
Consult a Professional for Treatment
If carpenter bees have already infested your home, contact a qualified pest control professional. Treatments are best done in early spring before the bees become established. An expert can target pesticide applications to active nesting galleries and provide advice on structural repairs and prevention.
While carpenter bees can be a nuisance, understanding a little about their biology and goals can help ease concerns over their springtime hovering. Maintain your home, make inspections, and enlist professional help as needed. With a few simple steps, you can deter carpenter bees and prevent damage while enjoying their role as pollinators. The key is not to panic when the males seem aggressive – remember they are harmless. A well-maintained home is your best defense against damage. With some diligence, carpenter bees don’t need to become an unwelcome annual visitor.
Tips for Deterring Carpenter Bees:
- Keep wood surfaces painted or stained
- Make repairs to damaged areas
- Seal holes and cracks with caulk
- Replace damaged boards and facia
- Inspect home in fall for new nests
- Apply preventative treatment in early spring
- Fill galleries with caulk after treatment
- Work with a professional exterminator for infestations
Signs of Carpenter Bee Activity:
- Perfectly round bore holes in wood
- Accumulations of coarse sawdust
- Males hovering near house in spring
- Yellow-brown stains from bee feces
While intimidating, understanding the facts about carpenter bees can help ease concerns over their springtime presence. With preventative maintenance and the proper approach, carpenter bee damage can be minimized while still supporting their role as pollinators. A well-prepared homeowner can deter carpenter bees and reach a better coexistence with these important native bees.
Carpenter bee feces: It Stains.
See those yellow-brown spots on your house’s siding, maybe under the gutters or the eaves? They are caused by carpenter bee poop, and they are very hard to get rid of.
Power washing doesn’t always get rid of carpenter bee poop. Finding yellow-brown stains on the side of your house, on the other hand, is a good sign that you have a problem with carpenter bees. Look high and low for this telltale sludge in an effort to locate carpenter bee nesting sites.
Hovering and dive-bombing in the name of love.
It’s what carpenter bees do, second to springtime pollination. A shiny, black bee that looks like a big bumblebee is an adult male carpenter bee. He “hovers” while he searches for a female mate.
When the male carpenter bee finds you in his territory, he may fly in and hover just inches away from your face. This is because they are naturally curious. The Good News:
Should you still not be able to get out of the way quickly enough, try throwing something small away. It’s interesting that the carpenter bee has a blind spot for almost anything that moves.
Prevent Carpenter Bees FOREVER
FAQ
Why are carpenter bees flying around my house?
What attracts carpenter bees to my house?
Should I leave carpenter bees alone?
What is a carpenter bee?
Carpenter bees are large, black and yellow insects. They are often seen hovering around the eaves of houses or the underside of deck and porch rails during springtime. These curious creatures, with their distinctive appearance, might have caught your attention while spending time outdoors, leading you to wonder why they hover so persistently.
Do hovering carpenter bees bother you?
When you come face to face with a hovering carpenter bee, the female bees won’t bother you much, as they’re pretty chill. However, the male bees might be protective. So, the best thing you can do is give them some space. Step back a bit, and they’ll likely go about their business without any fuss.
How do you know if a carpenter bee is destroying your house?
Carpenter bee damage can look similar to other destructive pests, so it’s important to identify the signs of carpenter bees, so that you can properly treat them! Carpenter bees strong jaws that help them make tunnels inside wooden eaves in houses, such as on wooden fences, walls, wooden decks, and more.
Why do carpenter bees hover around human heads?
Adult carpenter bees hover around human heads to guard their turf. This behavior might be observed as you enjoy time with your friends and family.
Why do carpenter bees humming?
Carpenter bees love to build their nests individually, just like they love boreholes. As a result, the insects drill through any wooden surfaces they can find in the house. This is why if you hear vibrating, buzzing, or humming sounds coming from within the walls of your house, there’s likely an infestation.
How do you know if a flying insect is a carpenter bee?
If the flying insect does not have the signature yellow stripes, they’re likely carpenter bees. Secondly, you must carefully observe where the flying bees are heading in your home. If you particularly see them congregating near wooden surfaces, such as your porch, roofline, etc., they’re like carpenter bees in the house. 3.