Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees get their name from their habit of making holes in wood. There are several species of carpenter bees in the United States. One of the most common species is Xylocopa virginica (L). This is probably also the most destructive carpenter bee. Its range extends from Kansas to Texas and eastward to the Atlantic.

Carpenter bees are fairly large, ½” to 1” in length. They resemble bumblebees except their abdomen is smooth and hairless. Male carpenter bees are very aggressive, but they have no stinger. Females have a potent stinger, but seldom sting.

Female carpenter bees make holes in wood in order to deposit their eggs. They make their galleries in almost any wooden object they find. They attack decks, siding, landscape timbers, and even lawn furniture. They seem to prefer unpainted wood, but they will also attack painted or stained wood.

The female carpenter bee makes a hole in the wood about the same size as her body. When the hole is about an inch deep, she turns and begins to burrow along the grain. A new gallery may be 6” long. Older galleries that have been re-used may extend several feet. It takes a female several days to make a 6” gallery. The sawdust and wood shavings on the ground are often a clue that carpenter bees are active.

The female carpenter bee puts some pollen and other food in the gallery, and then deposits an egg. She seals the compartment with chewed wood pulp and then repeats the process. When she has finished, the gallery will have several compartments with an egg in each one. Depending on the species and the climate, the eggs develop into adult bees in 36 to 90 days.

Carpenter bees are not social insects. Each female lays her own eggs. However, several females may attack the same piece of wood. In many cases, they even share a gallery. Over time, carpenter bees can cause significant damage.

How to Get Rid of and Eliminate Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bee control involves treating each hole. Dust insecticide can be effective since it will not soak into the wood. Be sure to follow label directions. After the holes are treated, leave them alone. This will allow the bees to crawl through the treatment. In the fall, it should be all right to seal the holes and make any repairs that are needed.