How To Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

A carpenter bee infestation isn’t just unpleasant—it can cause serious damage to your home. Read on to learn how to battle your carpenter bee problem.

Written by Brenda Woods Updated 07/23/2024

Carpenter bees tunnel through the wooden parts of your home to create nests. These annoying pests don’t just damage your home. They can also sting and cause allergic reactions.

The presence of carpenter bees around your property could signal an infestation. If you don’t address it promptly, you may face costly repairs. In this guide, you’ll learn how to get rid of carpenter bees yourself and how to tell when it’s time to hire a professional.

What Are Carpenter Bees?

Carpenter bees that belong to the genus Xylocopa are the largest native bees in the United States. They usually have shiny black or metallic blue bodies around 1 inch long. Female carpenter bees sting only when provoked. Males don’t sting at all.

Unlike bumblebees with fuzzy, hairy, yellow and black bellies, carpenter bees have smooth abdomens. Male carpenter bees often have white or yellow markings on their faces, while females’ heads are black. Both genders have strong jaws that can bore into wood.

Female carpenter bees drill holes and excavate tunnels in wood to lay their eggs. These bees prefer softwoods, such as pine, cedar, redwood, and cypress. While trees appeal to these pests, they often choose wooden structures like fascia boards, porches, decks, and wooden siding. Unlike honey bees and many other bee species, carpenter bees don’t form colonies or hives. Each female takes care of her own nest.

What Are the Signs of a Carpenter Bee Infestation?

Early carpenter bee detection is key to avoiding a serious infestation. When you know what to look for, you can spot the problem while it’s still easy to control. The most common signs of carpenter bees taking up residence on your property are the following:

Circular holes (around 1/2-inch in diameter) in wooden parts of your home, such as eaves, fascia boards, decks, and siding
Large black and shiny bees hovering around wooden structures
Small piles of sawdust on the ground beneath the entrance holes in the wood
Yellowish-brown stains on the wooden surfaces (this is their excrement, which is extremely hard to remove)

Other wood-boring insects, such as termites and carpenter ants, also damage wood but show different signs of activity. For example, termites’ holes and tunnels are irregularly shaped. Meanwhile, carpenter ants prefer damp and decaying wood to strong wooden surfaces.

Carpenter Bee Damage

While carpenter bees don’t eat wood like termites, they still inflict structural damage on your home.

When female bees build nests, they chew into the surface and create tunnels that extend several inches into the wood. Each tunnel can branch off into multiple galleries where bees lay their eggs. When a new generation is born, the tunnels expand and the damage increases.

If the infestation becomes severe, the tunnel digging can compromise the stability of critical structural components of your home.

The most commonly affected types of wood include the following:

Cedar
Cypress
Fir
Pine
Redwood

Carpenter bees prefer untreated and unpainted wood since it has the perfect texture for burrowing activities.

DIY Methods To Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

If the number of carpenter bees in your home is still insignificant, there may be a way to eliminate them without calling bee exterminators. We outline some of the most effective DIY methods for removing these unwanted guests below.

Natural Repellents

Essential oils are the most useful natural repellents for carpenter bees. They work by exploiting these pests’ sensory preferences. The oil’s strong scents and chemical compounds create an environment that these pests find unpleasant and uninhabitable.

Here’s how to make a natural repellent from essential oils:

Mix around 15 drops of essential oil (citrus, peppermint, tea tree) and a cup of water in a spray bottle.
Shake the mixture well and spray it around the entrance holes created by the bees.

Another effective natural repellent is white vinegar. Its strong odor and acidity discourage bees from coming to their nests. To create a repellent, mix equal parts water and vinegar in the spray bottle and apply around the entrance to the nests every few days.

You can also use almond oil. It contains benzaldehyde, which emits a strong odor and keeps the carpenter bees away. Apply it around the holes made by the bees and reapply as needed.

Sealing and Painting Wood Surfaces

Since carpenter bees prefer unpainted wood, sealing and painting existing surfaces can keep them away. Here’s a step-by-step guide for doing it:

Locate all carpenter bee holes.
Fill the hole with wood putty, wooden corks, liquid nails, caulk or any other suitable material.
Use medium-grit sandpaper to smooth the filled areas and any rough wood surfaces.
Clean off dust and debris with a damp cloth.
Apply the paint or sealant evenly across the wood surface with a brush.
Allow the first coat to dry completely, then apply a second coat for extra protection.

Oil- or latex-based paint is the best for keeping carpenter bees away. For sealants, use polyurethane or varnish. It’s worth noting that painting isn’t an ideal bee-repelling technique. In some cases, carpenter bees also nest in painted wood, especially when the paint smell wears off.

Traps and Sprays

Carpenter bee traps mimic the pests’ nesting sites. They usually look like a wooden box with angled holes that lead into a plastic container or a glass jar. You can make the traps or buy them at a home improvement store.

Here’s how to use the trap:

Position traps near active carpenter bee areas.
Check traps weekly and empty the container.
Move traps if you notice increased activity in other areas.

Another way to fight carpenter bees is to use an over-the-counter insecticide. When buying an insecticide, make sure it’s designed for carpenter bees. Always follow the instructions on the label carefully. Check the instructions to find out how often pesticides should be reapplied.

How Can You Prevent Future Carpenter Bee Infestations?

After initially removing the carpenter bees, ensure they don’t choose your property for nesting again. The most effective preventive measures include the following techniques:

Apply natural repellents, such as peppermint or citrus oil, to wooden surfaces.

Apply paint or a clear varnish to all exposed wood surfaces.

Regularly inspect and seal any cracks and crevices in wooden structures.

Remove any old or untreated wood from your yard.

Use hardwoods, such as oak, maple, or mahogany, for construction.

Use vinyl or aluminum siding to cover exposed wood areas.

You must be consistent with these measures to ensure carpenter bees don’t come back.

When To Call a Professional Pest Control Service

While DIY methods for removing carpenter bees can work, some require professional assistance. You may need to research the best pest control companies in your area if:

The number of nests and bees is constantly increasing regardless of your DIY efforts.
The carpenter bees are returning and infesting your property every season.
You are worried about handling insecticides on your own.
The nesting sites are hard to reach.

Professionals will conduct an inspection to identify all nesting sites and create an effective treatment plan. They can also offer long-term prevention strategies, including specialized treatments to prevent new infestations. Bee removal costs depend on factors such as home size and infestation severity.

Our Conclusion

Getting rid of carpenter bees in your house is possible without calling in professionals, but the sooner, the better. By paying attention to warning signs, such as odd, circular holes in wood coupled with small piles of sawdust and yellow-brown wood stains, you can take action before the problem becomes too widespread for home remedies. This includes natural oils, traps, sprays, and certain paint types.

If DIY methods fail, it’s time to call a professional pest control service. The bee exterminator team can control the infestation, eliminate the bees, and consult you about effective preventive measures.

FAQ About How To Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

How long do carpenter bees stay around?

Carpenter bees live for a year. They usually hatch at the end of summer or the beginning of fall. Those living through winter go into hibernation and return in early spring.

What attracts carpenter bees to my house?

Carpenter bees use softwood to make nests. Untreated softwood attracts them to your house.

What do carpenter bees hate the most?

Carpenter bees hate the scent of citrus and peppermint. That’s why natural repellents made from these ingredients are highly effective.

What does vinegar do to carpenter bees?

A Vinegar gives off a sharp odor that carpenter bees don’t like. It also creates an acidic environment, making it harder for the bee to build a nest.

What is the fastest way to get rid of carpenter bees?

The fastest way to get rid of carpenter bees is to hire a professional pest control service. For DIY methods, repellents with essential oils work best.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.