How to Eliminate Aggressive Territorial Carpenter Bees

You may have noticed carpenter bees surrounding your home in late spring or early summer. They look like bumble bees, except carpenter bees have shiny black abdomens while bumble bees have hairy abdomens with some yellow markings. The carpenter bees lingering around your home are probably looking for a place to find a mate or build a nest. Most carpenter bees will not hurt you. Male carpenter bees don't have stingers, and female carpenter bees hardly ever sting. Although they are not harmful, you may hear them buzzing or notice that they have infested wood. There are a few options for getting rid of carpenter bees.

Things You'll Need

• Caulk
• Putty
• Safety Gloves
• Stick
• Bagged vacuum

Instructions

Plug up Entrance

1. Locate where the bees are coming from.

2. Put on safety gloves and a long-sleeved shirt for extra safety. Although the female bees are not likely to sting, they do have stingers.

3. Apply caulk or putty to the bee entrance. Cover any spot that you think the bees can possibly come through. The bees will not be able to escape.

Vacuum

1. Wait until early evening when the bees have returned to their nest and they are slower-moving.

2. Put on safety gloves and a long-sleeved shirt.

3. Poke nest with a stick.

4. Turn on vacuum and vacuum up the bees.

5. Remove the vacuum bag immediately and dispose of it in a sealed trash bag.

Bee Spray

1. Wait until early evening.

2. Put on gloves and a long-sleeved shirt.

3. Spray a bee-killing spray directly on the nest.

4. Spray the nest twice.

Tips & Warnings

• To keep bees away, cover up any holes made with putty. For significant wood damage, you may need to replace the wood.

References

• University of Kentucky: Carpenter Bees
• How to Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

Resources

• Carpenter Bee Control: Bee Questions