Our world would be a different place without carpenters. Very few houses would be made out of wood, building costs would be through the roof, and furniture would be a whole lot less appealing to look at. Unfortunately, carpenter bees are not so helpful. You will not find these pests building you a rocking chair or repairing your damaged porch; if anything, the opposite is true. To help you better understand how big of a problem carpenter bees are around Rock Island properties, here are a few things you should consider.
What Are Carpenter Bees
Most species of bees are social insects that live in large colonies. Carpenter bees are a bit different. These solitary pests prefer to live alone and build their homes into softened structures of wood. These tunneled holes act as a shelter from exterior weather conditions and provide bees a safe place to lay their eggs. Most often, carpenter bees become active and start mating during April or May. During this time, eggs are laid inside small cells at the back of drilled holes. These eggs hatch just before summer and are fed with gathered pollen until they are mature enough to leave the nest and fend for themselves.
How To Identify A Carpenter Bee Infestation
The best way to know if your property has a carpenter bee infestation is to check your home and outbuildings’ structural wood for small drilled holes. These holes are typically ¼” long and are perfectly round at their opening. Another way to identify these pests is by their presence around your property. A carpenter bee shares many similarities to their close cousin the honey bee but has a sleek black abdomen rather than a colorful and fuzzy one. A carpenter bee also has a unique black spot in the middle of their fuzzy yellow midsection.
The Problems That Comes With Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees are not as destructive to homes as termites or carpenter ants are. That said, the tunnels these pests create still weaken wooden structures over time when left unchecked. They are also unsightly to look at.
One problem that carpenter bees pose that other wood-destroying pests do not is that they sting when threatened. What makes this worse is that they have smooth stingers; unlike honey bees, they can sting more than once. If you are allergic to insect venom, be extra cautious around these common area pests as it can take as little as one sting to trigger anaphylactic shock.
How To Deter Carpenter Bees From Your Property
Carpenter bees are much like other stinging insects and are drawn to properties by food and shelter. To help deter these pests from settling down around your Rock Island yard, here are a few prevention tips to use:
Re-paint and varnish your home’s structural wood.
Fill openings around your home’s exterior.
Repair or replace wood that is water damaged, rotting, or decaying.
Clean up thoroughly after outdoor gatherings.
Make sure your home’s window/door screens are in good working order.
Store firewood, untreated lumber, and other wooden materials at least 30 feet from your home.
Consider removing flowers and budding plants from your property.
If you are finding active carpenter bee nests around your property, do not hesitate to give the experts here at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators a call. We will send one of our highly trained pest technicians your way to remove these destructive pests from your Rock Island home. While your technician is over, ask them about our year-round pest control plans and how they could help your yard stay carpenter bee-free through every season.