Lets just say we are neighbors, and one day you and I are out working on our lawns out front. I took a break, leaned on the short picket fence. You came over, we chatted a bit then you said “Ya know, I wouldn't tell every neighbor about this but I have wood boring bees”. Do you have any advice?" Well I can't tell you specially what to do, but I can tell you what I would do to treat my home if I had Carpenter bees.
Bees, the kind that a huge, loud and eat wood!! Devils from hell with wings some say. They go in holes a bit smaller then a dime, about the thickness of a man's pinkie finger. They seem to be in the same spot every year and are getting worse. Read on and maybe we can kill them together.
Note: Carpenter bees are not aggressive; you can walk right up to the hole and not be stung. Male bees don't have stingers. Females do but rarely sting. Theses bees will fly around and you think they are “dive bombing” you. In 14 years of messing with theses things I have never been stung.
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Identification
To be sure you are seeing Carpenter bees try Google the images tab to see an image of a Carpenter bee. The key here is the shiny black skin. A Bumblebee is not shiny. Also if you follow the bee and see it going in to a hole that has been bored in wood, odds are it is a Carpenter bee. You will also notice saw dust or frass shavings of wood piled up below the hole being drilled by the Carpenter bee, and lastly, you will find near the hole what appears to be bee poop around the area of the hole, not necessarily close to hole but near the same area. It will be smeared or dropped on the surface of the wood near the entry area.
Inspection
This is the hardest part of the treatment for Carpenter bees. It is imperative that you find every hole that is active. Don't just look were you see them flying, find every piece of wood they are boring in to. Look high and low, I have seen them infest wood members below sheds and high fascia boards as well. Take notes on every location you find the holes, even if the holes are old and not active. It is very important that you find every piece of wood that is infested.
Treatment-always follow label directions
Go to any large discount store and purchase any type of powder that has “Orthoboric acid” in it. This may just say for roaches but it will kill any kind of pest. The powder should be in a plastic bottle with a cone tip applicator. You will need to puff dust in to the holes. Now hold on a second, I don't mean fill the holes with dust, I mean puff the hole with dust. If you apply this dust correctly it will line the hole with a light dusting, any more is to much it will scare off the bee. Now wait a few days and as the bees go back and forth the dust will accumulate on their hairs and as the bee grooms itself will ingest a lethal dose
Now, you may still see some adult bees flying around but after a few you should see a difference in the buzzing population. At this point you will need to tap a dowel rod tip into the hole or fill the hole with wood putty. The adults have laid eggs in the gallery of excavated wood that will hatch out next year so sealing the holes is very important.
Permanent Solution
The permanent solution is treating the wood, untreated or weathered wood is the target of these borers. You will need to paint, stain or clear coat the wood. If you have recently done this and they are still there then the paint was not quality or was applied unevenly. An even thick coat is the best solution to permanently keep these bees away.
