Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees (sometimes called "wood bees" or "borer bees") are large, stout bees that look quite a bit like bumblebees. You often can observe them chasing each other around during their mating rituals in the late spring and early summer, or see females hovering around exposed wood looking for appropriate places to build their nests.

Carpenter bees actually have some endearing qualities. They are industrious pollinators. They are non-aggressive and very rarely sting. They also are fairly attractive, as insects go. In fact, most people would probably like carpenter bees just fine if it weren't for their one annoying habit:

Carpenter bees drill holes.

Carpenter bees drill holes in wood wherever they can find it. They drill holes in house siding. They drill holes in fascia boards. They drill holes in soffits, swing sets, door and window frames, wooden statues, decks, banisters... Basically, anywhere carpenter bees can find a piece of softwood, they drill holes.

And to make matters worse, carpenter bees seem to take special delight in drilling holes in places that humans can't reach, such as behind siding and along roof fascia and soffits. Wherever they drill holes, they create sawdust and leave behind unsightly stains known as ejecta.

Why do Carpenter Bees Drill Holes?

In all fairness to carpenter bees, they don't drill holes for the sheer joy of it, nor do they do it simply to annoy us. They drill holes and excavate galleries to lay their eggs in. Although we usually only see the entrance holes, carpenter bee egg galleries can extend several feet along the grain from the entrance hole. Over time, carpenter bee damage can become quite extensive, often requiring expensive work to repair or replace damaged wood.

Carpenter Bee Control

Because of their habit of drilling holes in out-of-the-way places, carpenter bees can be difficult to treat. It takes an expert exterminator to find the holes and get a suitable product deep enough into the galleries to be effective. For a professional assessment of your carpenter bee problem and a customized treatment plan, contact us. Buckingham Pest Control serves the Greater St. Louis, Missouri area.