Carpenter bee pandemic

[Earp69]

Built my 36x56 this year and a 16 foot lean too off the back, I love the lean too because it's open and nice to work under cover of the sun and rain. Unfortunately since the lean too is open the carpenter bees love it more than I do and are constantly trying to bore holes in my new wood! I've been killing any that are out there when I am but it's not slowing them down one bit. What's the best thing to get rid of these sapsuckers?

 

[930dreamer]

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/carpenter-bees

 

[BillK]

I have a couple of these hanging up and they catch a fair number but not all of them. Carpenter Bee spray gets the rest but you have to see their holes and squirt it in there.

https://www.myfrugalhome.com/how-to-build-a-carpenter-bee-trap/

 

[Sevenhills1952]

You can buy or make these traps if you have jars and scrap wood blocks. Then keep badminton rackets handy!

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[nadogail]

I have a couple of these hanging up and they catch a fair number but not all of them. Carpenter Bee spray gets the rest but you have to see their holes and squirt it in there.

https://www.myfrugalhome.com/how-to-build-a-carpenter-bee-trap/

Thank You for sharing this information.

 

[ratdoggy]

You can buy or make these traps if you have jars and scrap wood blocks. Then keep badminton rackets handy!

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I've made some of those...
Never saw a bee in them they tend to get yellow jackets which is OK by me
Badminton racquet + A carpenter bee on the sweet spot = happiness for me

 

[aka Larry]

Anyone notice they seem to be more attracted to new pressure treated wood?

The wife bought a pair of rocking chairs made with PT wood for the front porch (have no idea why, we NEVER sit on the front porch) and those bastards just ate 'em up! It was a new pile of sawdust every single day. I finally tossed the chairs and the bees were gone.

Oddly enough, our back deck is made with PT wood, and I've never seen a single one gnawing on that.

 

[TriumphFan]

Location is pretty important for those traps. I have several and some get lots and some get none. It does help to reduce the population.

 

[boatshoes]

Badminton racquet + A carpenter bee on the sweet spot = happiness for me

It's the simple things in life.

 

[billspit]

Paint the wood helps, but isn’t 100% effective.

 

[rlitman]

Location is pretty important for those traps. I have several and some get lots and some get none. It does help to reduce the population.

And that location is? I've seen carpenter bees fly circles around my trap. I still haven't caught one.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

Terminix spayed some stuff on our porch and deck which seems to have driven them away. I do not know what it was.

 

[nh_yota]

Anyone else notice that carpenter bees are particularly bad this year? That and yellow jackets/hornets. I think it's because despite all the rain we had up here in April it hasn't rained much since then.

 

[TriumphFan]

And that location is? I've seen carpenter bees fly circles around my trap. I still haven't caught one.

Good question. The trap that does the best is under the eaves and catches a lot of sun. I've also heard that a dead bee attracts others.

 

[rlitman]

Good question. The trap that does the best is under the eaves and catches a lot of sun. I've also heard that a dead bee attracts others.

Under the eves, check. But mine is perhaps a bit too shaded. Maybe I'll move out out a couple of inches.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

We have huge bell hornets. Wife mixes beer, dark sugar Coke or Pepsi, even adds some sugar in these 2 liter traps or ones we get at farm store. In a few days they're full.

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[Sevenhills1952]

It helps putting swatted carpenter bees in those other traps to get it started.

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[P0234]

Terminix spayed some stuff on our porch and deck which seems to have driven them away. I do not know what it was.

They are required to give you a receipt with what they used.

 

[97tj-neil]

Delta Dust. Buy on Amazon.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

All you need: www.domyown.com

 

[ezridr60]

Both my brother and I had trouble with boring insects. He had carpenter bees in cedar siding, I had wasps, or hornets in a pine log home. We both contracted with commercial pest control companies. Don’t know what they used on his cedar, our local outfit used cyfluthrin. Problem solved. Controls just about every flying insect there is. We get no spiders, which used to be a big problem. Additionally I bought some Demon Max (Amazon), contains Cypermethrin for spot treating between commercial applications, which last about 3-4 months, cost about $140 per application.

 

[headwrench]

As hard as it may be to believe...i got paper lunch bags...blow in the bag to balloon them out & hang near where they carpenter bees are at. They were gone in a day or two....carpenter bees think the bag is a hornets nest....worked great for me.......

 

[TailGunner3000]

Anyone else notice that carpenter bees are particularly bad this year?

Yes!!!!

I built as new deck about 6 years ago. Almost instantly I started to get a few carpenter bees here and there. I didn't like them as I knew what they were doing to my hard work. But I tolerated a few as they are pollinators.

But this year they came out in droves. Dozens descended on my deck. Didn't want to entertain on a pile of Swiss cheese. Sadly, I had to resort to more drastic measures. I still get them, but not many. Perhaps they are just mourning their dead comrades.

 

[rlitman]

All you need: www.domyown.com

Even better. google.com

Now how exactly is that helpful?

 

[XJSuperman]

I particularly enjoy 22Plinkster's method.

Weapon of choice: .22LR long barreled Revolver
Ammo: .22lr shotshells (real small pellets instead of a single bullet)
Target: Carpenter Bees
Location: rural country home safely away from others

 

[joe_padavano]

The problem is bare wood. Paint usually stops them from boring.

 

[Earp69]

Thanks for the replies guys. I've had great luck with my leaf rake because of the extra reach VS a tennis racket. I saw the traps but just don't think itd work that great.

 

[marantzer]

Badminton racquet + A carpenter bee on the sweet spot = happiness for me

Enough practice and you can get multiple bees with one swing, especially in early spring. I've hit three at once, talk about gratifying....

 

[Sevenhills1952]

Enough practice and you can get multiple bees with one swing, especially in early spring. I've hit three at once, talk about gratifying....

Years ago this pesky fellow would hang around here. One day he saw me swatting bees. I handed him the racket when I saw a bunch of bell hornets coming. He swatted like crazy then jumped in his car never to return[emoji16].

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[rlwhitetr3b]

They are required to give you a receipt with what they used.

They did, I was just too lazy to look it up. If someone asked, I will check the email statement.

 

[ransil]

Spray eves with cypermethrin, just did my house last week, repete yearly

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[Hubscrub66]

We've had a bunch this year, we looked like idiots out in the backyard with nets and one of those zapper rackets. They was messing with the fence and the kids play set. Set out some of those traps and they worked pretty good.

 

[Earp69]

I ordered some cyzmic cs, supposed to be good long lasting stuff that you mix in a pump sprayer and apply. Hopefully this will do the trick

 

[buzzworth]

Timberframe home, many bees in the past. I had the wood stained last fall and they added something called "Bug Off", I believe. (I'll check the name when I go to my shop) It has worked well this year.
But...Last years crop laid their eggs in the wood and now the woodpeckers are tearing up the trim.
Might have to get the 22 shot shells out for the peckers.

 

[Plastikosmd]

I bought a 410 with some #9 shot
I use to use BB gun but this is more fun

 

[ncfireman1918]

I have problems with them on the 45* angled braces on my gazebo. The odd thing is that they have only ever bored into the braces, not into the PT 6x6 posts, or any part of my PT deck. Most off the shelf wasp and hornet spray will kill them. You can also spray WD-40 into the holes. They hate the smell and will find a new home. I’ve used a lot of professional products over the years from do your own pest control (can’t remember the exact URL, but Google it). They have a few wetable powders and liquid sprays that are labeled for carpenter bees. We do the tennis racket/zapper racket too. Lots of fun. I hate those stupid things!

 

[4xdog]

Has anyone tried a Bug-A-Salt airgun on carpenter bees? Some friends showed me theirs last year, part of their Airstream travel kit, and it worked surprisingly well on flies or skeeters. Not sure, though, it would have the range or the force to take down a carpenter bee.

 

[flan]

Brake parts cleaner or carb cleaner stops them in their tracks as well.

 

[flan]

I have problems with them on the 45* angled braces on my gazebo. The odd thing is that they have only ever bored into the braces, not into the PT 6x6 posts, or any part of my PT deck. Most off the shelf wasp and hornet spray will kill them. You can also spray WD-40 into the holes. They hate the smell and will find a new home. I’ve used a lot of professional products over the years from do your own pest control (can’t remember the exact URL, but Google it). They have a few wetable powders and liquid sprays that are labeled for carpenter bees. We do the tennis racket/zapper racket too. Lots of fun. I hate those stupid things!

They like my 45 degree braces too! Wonder what the appeal is.