Carpenter Bees

 

Color:  Carpenter bees have abdomens that are black and shiny, not hairy; males are orange and black in color and females are completely black.

Characteristics: Solitary bees that resemble bumble bees.  They bore holes in wood to create nesting areas.

Size: A large type of bee, these pests range in size from ½ to 1 ½ inches in length.

Potentially Dangerous: Yes

Bites & Stings

Structure Damaging

Health Hazard

Why do I have a carpenter bee problem?

Carpenter bees are not using the wood in and around your home for a food source, like termites, but rather as a nesting area.  They bore circular holes in it to lay their eggs and will also use those holes to nest in over the winter months.  They prefer unpainted, weathered softwoods; these areas are usually found on decks, porches and sheds.  Carpenter bee breeding pairs will often come back to the same area year after year to make their nest; this also increases the amount of damage that they can do to your home.

What kind of a threat do carpenter bees pose?

Female carpenter bees do have stingers, but rarely sting people unless they are directly handled or threatened.  Male carpenter bees are aggressive, but do not have a stinger; they will fly around your head and buzz loudly in an effort to intimidate you.  The holes that the carpenter bees create in the wood of your home can be enough to weaken the structure.  Woodpeckers, attracted to carpenter bee larvae, may also cause damage to the structure.

How do I control carpenter bees?

Controlling carpenter bees can be a difficult task; there is the possibility of being stung and having an allergic reaction.  Also the fact that consecutive generations come back to the same area to nest can make completely getting rid of them tough.  Contacting the professionals at Holder’s Pest Solutions is the best way to rid your home or business of carpenter bees.  Contact Holder’s today to find out more information on how we can help to eliminate carpenter bees from your property.

Related Post From Our Blog

  • Hurricane Harvey flooding a vast area of land.

The Life Cycle of Weather and Pests

October 11th, 2017|0 Comments

As time passes following Hurricane Harvey, Holder’s phone continues to ring with new pest questions daily. Houston’s weather is still readjusting from the extreme moisture, which means pests are too. We are here to explain [...]

Enjoy National BBQ Month Bug-Free

May 19th, 2017|0 Comments

As you may already know, May is national barbecue month. Although the month is coming to a close, barbecue season continues year-round in Houston – so there’s plenty of time to load up the grill [...]

Forecast Calls for Increased Flying Pest Population in Houston

April 13th, 2017|0 Comments

With warmer, wetter spring weather on its way, we can expect to see a higher than normal flying pest population this year. Houston’s winter weather brought warmer than normal temperatures – who remembers the 80-degree [...]