What Kind of Bees Bore Holes in a Wood Fence?
Carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) create nests and lay eggs in wooden structures. Untreated wood structures that have been exposed to weather, such as a wooden fence, are the preferred nesting location of carpenter bees, according to Texas A&M University. Does this Spark an idea?
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Identification
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Carpenter bees are large, robust bees. They are often mistaken for bumble bees but can be differentiated by their solid black, iridescent abdomen that has a green or purple sheen unlike the colorful abdomen of bumble bees. While the size of a carpenter bee may be intimidating to some, males are harmless and cannot bite or sting and females are docile and will only sting when directly handled, according to Ohio State University.
Damage
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Carpenter bees cause damage to wood buy boring holes into the wood and excavating breeding chambers in which they lay their eggs. The entry holes are perfectly circular and are the diameter of a dime in size. While the entrance holes are unsightly, a single instance of carpenter bee infestation in a wooden fence rarely causes any structural damage. However, if carpenter bees continually colonize the same area of your fence, the wood may weaken and become susceptible to secondary damage from other pests.
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Control
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If carpenter bees have established a nest in your fence then sealing the entrance hole is the best measure to prevent further damage. Fill the nest with a liquid sealant or caulking compound and cover the entrance with wood putty, steel wool or a wooden dowel. If carpenter bee nesting activity is persistent, then use appropriate pesticides such as residual dust formulations in areas of the fence where carpenter bee activity is observed.
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References
- Photo Credit carpenter bee image by Richard Seeney from Fotolia.com
