For homeowners in many parts of the United States, carpenter bees rarely attract attention. When passing near homes, these bees may go unnoticed or be mistaken for other bees. However, homeowners in areas with large carpenter bee populations look at these wood-damaging insects differently. Carpenter bee activities can cause extensive damage to wooden structures, including your home, and threaten their integrity.
Carpenter bees can cause extensive damage to wood structures if left unchecked. Being able to identify signs of an infestation early is key to preventing costly repairs. Here are some tips on what carpenter bee damage looks like in images, and how to spot the telltale signs.
Circular Holes
One of the most obvious signs of carpenter bees are the round holes they bore into wood to create nesting galleries. Exit holes are usually about 1/2 inch in diameter, and perfectly circular since the bees chew them out with their mandibles. Older holes may become a bit ragged over time due to weathering. But fresh holes will have very smooth edges.
The entrance holes are often found along the edges and undersides of eaves, fascia boards, decks, fences and other exposed wood structures. Keep an eye out for neat rows of rounded holes in these areas. If you spot them, you likely have carpenter bees setting up house.
Sawdust and Debris
Carpenter bees kick out a lot of sawdust and debris as they excavate their nests. So you may see piles of light-colored, coarse sawdust on the ground or decking below an active nest It’s a big red flag for carpenter bee presence
The bees also leave behind splintered wood shreds that often collect right at the opening of their nests. So if you see debris clustered around perfectly rounded holes, carpenter bees have definitely moved in.
Staining and Discoloration
The comings and goings of carpenter bees can leave behind telltale stains and smudges on siding and walls. You’ll often see darkened smears around nest entrances, caused by the bees’ abdomens rubbing against the surface.
These “tracking” marks are sometimes the easiest early clue that carpenter bees are setting up residence. They’ll appear as almost perfect silhouettes of the bees themselves. Dark blotches of rubbed-off paint may also signal an active nest.
Structural Damage
If a nest has been established for awhile, you may see signs of more advanced deterioration. Wood may be eaten away along the grain, leaving behind grooves and notches. Tunnels inside the wood can cause severe weakening and instability.
Advanced damage usually shows up as chunks of wood broken off and pits or voids in the surface. You’ll also see more extensive paint removal around the entry holes. If you spot these signs, the infestation has likely been underway for more than one season.
Live Bee Spottings
Seeing the bees themselves is a surefire confirmation that carpenter bees are active in or around your property. The most common species in North America is the Eastern carpenter bee, which reaches about 1 inch in length.
Males have a yellow face and a shiny black abdomen, while females are solid black with some yellow hair. In spring, you may catch them hovering near nests or gathering pollen. Don’t be alarmed if they buzz nearby – males don’t sting, and females rarely do.
Where to Look
Carpenter bees prefer to nest in bare, untreated, weathered softwoods like pine, cedar and redwood. Some favorite targets include:
- Decks and railings
- Fascia and eave boards
- Window trim
- Siding and shingles
- Fences, gazebos and outdoor furniture
Check these vulnerable areas at least twice per year for early signs of damage. Catching an infestation before it gets established will make treatment much simpler.
Prevention is Ideal
While carpenter bee damage may not be severe at first, it can quickly escalate if left unchecked. That’s why prevention is so important. Here are some tips:
- Seal any exposed wood surfaces with high-quality primer and paint.
- Use wood preservatives or protective stains on decks, fences and outdoor structures. Reapply as needed.
- Caulk cracks and crevices in wood surfaces so bees have fewer entry points.
- Replace any rotten, warped or moisture-damaged boards and trim. Carpenter bees target deteriorated wood.
- Keep eaves, fascia boards and trim in good repair. Inspector for damage at least twice per year.
- Fill old nesting holes with caulk or wood putty to prevent bees from returning.
- Consider wraps, screens or foam covers for vulnerable exposed beams and posts. Physical barriers can deter nesting.
If you do spot early signs of infestation, act quickly before extensive damage occurs. Call a pest control professional to treat active nests and help “bee-proof” your home. An ounce of prevention against carpenter bees really is worth a pound of cure down the road.
IDENTIFYING CARPENTER BEE DAMAGE
Carpenter bees are one of the primary wood-damaging insects in the U. S. There are many species of these bees all over the country, but the eastern states are especially vulnerable to the damage that Eastern carpenter bees do.
Carpenter bees naturally nest in soft, old trees or even reed-like plants with soft, pithy interiors. But they dont discriminate against inviting wood that happens to be part of your home. Unlike termites, carpenter bees do not eat wood. The damage they cause comes from tunneling into wood to create nesting chambers. The bees bore entry holes about 1 inch deep into their targeted structure. 1. Sawdust piles on the ground and poop stains on the wood below their holes are clear signs that carpenter bees have been active.
Once inside wood, the tunneling bees branch out to create perpendicular tunnels about 4 to 6 inches long. A female carpenter bee creates about six to eight of these chambers, where it will lay its eggs. From the outside, all you can see is the hole, which is about 1/2 inch across and almost perfectly round. But inside, there is a network of hollowed-out pathways. Over many years, carpenter bee galleries can expand from several inches up to 10 feet in length. 1,2.
DISTINGUISHING CARPENTER BEES FROM OTHERS
Eastern carpenter bees are easily distinguished from common honey bees, but theyre often confused with bumble bees. Honey bees are European natives, typically slender and near 1/2 inch in length. Their woolly abdomens have bands of golden yellow to brown. The largest native bees in the United States are the carpenter bee and the bumble bee. They can grow up to an inch long. While both can have black and yellow hairs, Eastern carpenter bees have shiny black abdomens. Bumble bee abdomens are covered with yellow and black hairs. 1.
These three types of bees are also very different in their habits. Honey bees, called “social bees,” live in very large, communal groups. When they invade homes, they typically inhabit attics or cavities between walls. These groups can number in the tens of thousands. 2 Honey bees can also be very aggressive and defensive. Bumble bees are also social bees, but they live in small colonies and nest in the ground. Typically nonaggressive, they stay focused on flowers, not houses or people.
Carpenter bees are not social bees; they live more solitary lives. However, small groups of related bees stay together and remain in the same area for generations. Male carpenter bees can’t sting, but if people or pets come too close, they will dive at them over and over again.
Shiny, black abdomens distinguish Eastern carpenter bees from bumble bees.
What does Carpenter Bee Damage Look Like?
FAQ
What does damage from carpenter bees look like?
What is the best thing to fill carpenter bee holes with?
How do you get rid of carpenter bees?
Are carpenter bees causing damage?
Carpenter bees can cause damage by chewing through wood to create tunnels for nesting. Sealing the entrance holes with caulking or expanding foam does not work if the holes are not treated with a pesticide, as the trapped adult carpenter bees can chew through the caulk or excavate new openings.
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.
Can a carpenter bee affect your home?
A carpenter bee infestation isn’t just unpleasant—it can cause serious damage to your home. Read on to learn how to battle your carpenter bee problem. Carpenter bees tunnel through the wooden parts of your home to create nests. These annoying pests don’t just damage your home. They can also sting and cause allergic reactions.
What is a carpenter bee?
Carpenter bees, sometimes known as wood bees or wood bore bees, are a type of bee that can cause damage to a home by boring into wood. They are similar in shape and size to bumble bees, but carpenter bees have a glossy abdomen rather than one covered with fuzz.
How do I repair carpenter bee damage?
To repair carpenter bee damage, follow these three easy steps: 1. Locate all of the carpenter bee nests around your home. Check all the high and low spots of your home, including eaves and dormers on the roof. Carpenter bees love warmth, so pay close attention to the southern exposure of your house.
Can a carpenter bee damage a board?
On the surface, damage from a carpenter bee is actually quite inconspicuous. Usually, it appears as nothing more than a ½-inch diameter hole in the bottom of a board. It’s not until they see a big, fat carpenter bee flying in and out of this hole that most homeowners realize that they’re looking at damage from a carpenter bee.