Wacky Pest Wednesday: Carpenter Bees

A very happy Wednesday to you, Tri-County Pest Control fans!  We’re here with another edition of Wacky Pest Wednesday, and today, we invite you to join us as we cover a pest that you are bound to see in your yard this season: the carpenter bee.

Carpenter bees are known far and wide as a spring nuisance, especially for those who have a lot of wood furnishings outside.  These bees, like their relatives, are relatively large, fuzzy, and love to feed off of plant pollen and nectar.  However, unlike their relatives, they will dig a tunnel—called a “gallery”—in wood in order to lay their eggs.  While regular bees make a hive, carpenter bees will tunnel a circular hole into wood furniture, railings, decor, and just about anything else that has wood.  Even though they can be a nuisance in this regard, just remember that they don’t have stingers, so don’t fret if you find one circling around your head.

However, even without the threat of a sting, these pests can become quite annoying and destructive, leading many people to devise ways to keep them out.  Some have found that making traps is a great way to keep them at bay, whereas others say that by giving your wood a fresh coat of paint, the bees will stay away.  Both can work, but feel free to scour the internet for other DIY ideas to keep carpenter bees away.

Should you find yourself facing a swarm of these critters, know that we are here to help out whenever you need.  One call to us is all you need to get those bees to scram, and to leave your outdoor furnishings and lawn furniture for good!