How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees in a House

The carpenter bee can damage the wood in homes, fences and other structures as part of its breeding cycle. Here is some information on this insect and how to get rid of carpenter bees in a house.

Instructions

1. The carpenter bee looks very much like a bumble bee but without the yellow markings and the light fur covering. Carpenter bees are large, black and are usually iridescent. They help pollinate flowers and though they will buzz close to people, they rarely sting. In fact, the male carpenter bee doesn't even have a stinger. The carpenter bee would be a friend in the garden if it weren't for the bee's need to drill holes in wooden structures like our homes to bring up their young.

2. Carpenter bees tend to return to where they, themselves hatched out. As a result bees can build up damage over time from drilling holes and excavating tunnels. The bees deposit an egg at the end of each tunnel and leave a ball of pollen for the larva to feed upon before sealing up the tunnel. Larvae tend to be noisy so they then attract woodpeckers that can cause further damage to the house.

3. The only way to get rid of the carpenter bee is to poison each entrance hole using insecticidal spray or by injecting a poison in liquid, gel or dust form. Poisons usually contain chemicals like carbaryl (Sevin), cyfluthrin or resmethrin. If you use poisons, take care to keep any residue off of skin and clothes and stay downwind from any potential wind drift.

4. If you are not comfortable doing the treatments yourself call in the professionals.

5. To keep bees from returning to old tunnels for over wintering or laying new eggs, you can lay poison and plug holes with wire or aluminum balls covered with a caulked fill.

6. Prevention is best done by using building materials other than wood in the construction of your home. Vinyl or fiber cement trim or siding will not attract carpenter bees.

7. You can get rid of carpenter bees in the house, but it takes persistence and determination to continually treat and fill each hole. If carpenter bees are not damaging wooden structures like your home, let them alone. With the mysterious reduction in the numbers of honey bees, the carpenter bee is still helping with pollination. And not only our gardens, but our very food supply is dependent on our pollinating insects.

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide