what do carpenter bees sound like in the wall

The Buzzing and Drilling Sounds of Carpenter Bees in Your Wall

It’s a warm spring day, and you’re relaxing on the patio when suddenly you hear a strange buzzing sound coming from the wooden eaves. As the noise persists, it becomes clear this is more than just a random bug. Chances are, you’ve got carpenter bees setting up shop inside your walls!

As a homeowner, hearing these unusual noises raises so many questions and concerns. What exactly are carpenter bees? Why do they drill into wood? And how loud do they get? Read on for the inside scoop on the sounds these wood-boring bees make

What Are Carpenter Bees?

Carpenter bees are large, solitary bees that bore into wood to make their nests They resemble bumblebees in size and appearance but do not produce honey or live in colonies

There are two types of carpenter bees native to the United States

• Black carpenter bees have a shiny black abdomen and thorax. Males have a yellow dot on their face.

• Golden carpenter bees are dark gold/brownish black. Males have a white dot on their face.

Though they look intimidating, male carpenter bees don’t even have stingers! Only fertilized females can sting, but they rarely do unless provoked.

Why Do Carpenter Bees Drill Into Wood?

Carpenter bees drill into wood to build nesting galleries for egg-laying and shelter. They prefer weathered, unpainted softwoods like redwood, cedar, cypress and pine. Painted or pressure-treated wood is less appealing to them.

The bees bore circular holes about a 1/2 inch in diameter. They excavate straight tunnels up to 10 inches deep, with small chambers off to the sides for their eggs. One female bee will make around 6-8 tunnel holes per breeding season.

What Noises Do They Make?

The noises carpenter bees make come from their drilling and Nest excavation. Here are the main sounds you’ll hear:

Buzzing

The distinct buzzing noise comes from the bees vibrating their wings as they bore into the wood. It may get louder at certain times as they work harder to dig deeper into tunnels.

Drilling/Boring

You’ll hear a repetitive drilling or boring as the bees use their mandibles to chew into the wood. It sounds similar to a muffled drill. This noise can persist for several minutes at a time.

Tapping/Knocking

The bees often tap or knock their heads against the wood to widen cracks and openings. The tapping creates a resonating sound.

Raspiness

A rough, raspy sound might indicate the bees are chewing and gnawing to smooth out the entrance or chambers.

When Are Carpenter Bees Most Active and Noisy?

Carpenter bee activity spikes in spring, starting as early as April or May. The males emerge first and scope out suitable nesting spots. Once fertilized females appear, the buzzing and drilling really ramps up. They work tirelessly through summer to build up their nests.

Peak activity usually occurs during the warmer mid-day hours. But on warm evenings or low humidity days, you may hear them buzzing away into the night.

Carpenter bees are most active and noisy when:

• Temperatures rise above 60°F
• Establishing new nests in the spring
• Expanding existing nest tunnels in summer
• Foraging for food on blossoming flowers
• Defending nest sites from intruders

How Loud Do Carpenter Bees Get?

The volume of carpenter bee noise can range from a faint buzz to quite a loud, raucous buzzing.

Factors like the number of bees, how intensely they’re working, and the acoustics of your structure all affect the noise level. If you have dozens of bees boring into an outdoor overhang near your bedroom window, the noise will obviously be more bothersome.

Here’s a rough guide to the volume you can expect:

• A lone bee boring intermittently: 30 – 40 decibels
• Occasional buzzing from a few bees: 50 -60 decibels
• Sustained boring by many bees: 70+ decibels

For perspective, 60 decibels is about the level of normal conversation. The noise can get as high as an average vacuum cleaner (70 dB) or beyond.

Do Carpenter Bees Damage Property?

Carpenter bees cause very little structural damage, and they don’t eat wood. Their holes are mainly cosmetic. But over time, extensive tunnels can become unsightly or weaken wooden structures.

If you want to tackle the issue early, there are preventive steps you can take:

• Seal untreated wood surfaces with paint or varnish
• Fill existing holes with caulk or wood filler
• Cover wood with vinyl, aluminum or steel siding
• Use pesticides labeled for carpenter bee control
• Install bee traps around vulnerable areas

The Sounds of Summer

Hearing the incessant buzzing and boring of carpenter bees can be annoying. But try to remember they are just going about the important business of reproduction and survival. The sounds might take some getting used to. But eventually they’ll fade into the background, just another part of the summer soundtrack.