Question: I have an infestation of carpenter bees. What should I do to get rid of carpenter bees? Does Orkin take care of pests?
Answer: Carpenter bees can be a serious problem for owners of conventional houses and log houses. Carpenter bees are large insects that look like bumble bees. However, carpenter bees have shiny abdomens, while bumble bees are covered with tiny hairs, so they look fuzzy.
Carpenter bees create holes in wood around homes. These bugs eat siding, soffits, decks, posts, and painted or bare wood on barns and sheds. The paint needs to be old for them to do this. They have even been found making holes in wooden lawn furniture. These bees will make the holes for nests to lay their eggs in the galleries they dig out. They are solitary bees, but can occur in large numbers. Several species may use the same hole in a piece of wood as an entrance, but the galleries inside will be different.
Typically they are not aggressive, but the female can sting. Males do not possess a stinger but buzz about someone when they believe they are threatened.
Contact us to set up a meeting with a trained Orkin Pest Specialist who will look at the bees and make a treatment plan just for them.
Your highly trained Orkin Specialist will fill in the holes and give you advice on how to treat the outside wood in a way that keeps the carpenter bees away. After the treatment is done, the homeowner should fill in the holes with caulk, wood putty, or a dowel before the fall.
Carpenter bees can be a real nuisance, boring holes into your wooden structures and posing a painful stinging risk. Getting rid of them for good requires professional carpenter bee treatments. Luckily, you have options for effective treatments near you with a little research. Here’s how to find and compare local carpenter bee treatment services.
Inspect Damaged Areas
Start by thoroughly inspecting areas damaged by carpenter bees. Look for quarter-inch holes bored into untreated wood like eaves siding decks, etc. Also check for piles of sawdust under holes which is a telltale sign of carpenter bees. Identify areas heavily infested with holes to determine treatment scope.
Consult With Pest Control Companies
Search for “pest control near me” or “bee removal near me” to find local exterminators and bee specialists. Get quotes from several companies and ask the following:
- What carpenter bee treatments do you offer?
- How much experience do you have treating carpenter bees?
- What times of year do you treat carpenter bees?
- Do you provide any warranties or guarantees?
- What safety measures do you take?
This will help you gauge their expertise and selection of carpenter bee treatments
Compare Treatment Options
Professional carpenter bee treatments generally fall into three main categories each with pros and cons
Sprays: Pyrethrin-based sprays are effective when sprayed directly on bees and into nest holes. However, they must be reapplied frequently.
Dusts: Borate dusts like Tim-Bor provide long-lasting protection when puffed into galleries. But dusts are less effective on active bees.
Gels: Insecticide gels are highly effective when applied into galleries. But they are more expensive than sprays and dusts.
Discuss options with companies to decide which treatment fits your infestation and budget.
Ask About Addition Home Improvements
Carpenter bees are attracted to bare, unpainted wood. Ask pest companies about re-painting or re-staining damaged areas after treatment to further deter the bees. Installing vinyl siding can also permanently eliminate carpenter bees if frequent re-treatments are needed.
Compare Prices And Reviews
The cost of carpenter bee treatments can vary greatly based on your location, size of infestation and treatment method. Expect to pay $200-$600 on average. Compare prices between 3-5 local companies and read online reviews to gauge quality of service and results. Watch for red flags like lack of licensing or inflated prices.
Schedule Spring Treatments
The best time to treat carpenter bees is early spring, just after they become active again. This allows pest control pros to eliminate bees before eggs are laid and nest excavation begins. Fall is another option, but spring is more effective for long-term control.
Apply Treatments Thoroughly
Proper application is key. Sprays should soak wood surfaces and penetrate deep into galleries. Dusts require a special duster to puff them into holes and cracks completely. Gels are injected directly into nests. Make sure the company spends adequate time treating all infested areas.
Make Your Home Less Inviting
There are several DIY tweaks you can make to deter carpenter bees after professional treatment:
- Paint or seal exposed wood surfaces
- Fill small holes and cracks with caulk
- Keep painted surfaces in good repair
- Install door sweeps and window screens to block entry points
- Grow plants they dislike such as lavender, mint and citronella
Monitor For New Damage
Keep an eye out for new holes or bees returning in the weeks after treatment. It may take a follow-up application to fully eliminate them. Notify the pest control company right away if you see continued activity so they can provide additional treatments under any service guarantees.
Dealing with carpenter bees each year can get tiring. The good news is effective professional treatments are readily available in most areas if you know where to find them and what to look for. With a properly timed, thorough treatment plan and some prevention measures, you can finally rid your property of destructive carpenter bees for good.
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How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees (3 Easy Steps)
FAQ
How much does it cost to spray for carpenter bees?
What is the fastest way to get rid of carpenter bees?
Does homeowners insurance cover carpenter bees?
What do professional exterminators use for carpenter bees?
Does ecoguard pest management control carpenter bees?
EcoGuard Pest Management is a leader in carpinger bee control methodology and service. They ensure that specialized treatments are applied to deal with carpenter bees without affecting other bee colonies nearby.
How do you get rid of carpenter bees?
Take advantage of this knowledge by filling a spray bottle with water, adding some drops of essential oil —pick your favorite from among the ones carpenter bees hate—and spraying near wood structures to keep the bees at bay. Carpenter bee traps are exactly what they sound like—they lure and trap bees until your pest problem is solved.
When is the best time to get rid of carpenter bees?
When learning how to get rid of carpenter bees, the best time for treatment is not when they emerge in spring, but in late summer before the bees hibernate. Very early spring before bees emerge is the second-best option. When you treat, carpenter bee sprays can be applied on and around the holes in the wood.
Are carpenter bees a problem?
Early carpenter bee detection is key to avoiding a serious infestation. When you know what to look for, you can spot the problem while it’s still easy to control. The most common signs of carpenter bees taking up residence on your property are the following:
Do essential oils repel carpenter bees?
Essential oils are the most useful natural repellents for carpenter bees. They work by exploiting these pests’ sensory preferences. The oil’s strong scents and chemical compounds create an environment that these pests find unpleasant and uninhabitable. Here’s how to make a natural repellent from essential oils:
How long does it take to kill a carpenter bee?
Pesticides that include pyrethroids such as lambda-cyhalothrin or zeta cypermethrin begin killing carpenter bees within minutes, disrupting their nervous systems and typically causing death within several hours or over the course of a few days. These pesticides can also provide ongoing carpenter bee control for several weeks.