Distinguishing Between Carpenter Bees and Bumble Bees

This article will help you distinguish between the bumble bee and its evil twin, the carpenter bee. The amiable bumble bee is among the most common sights of the summer. An over-sized oaf of a bee, some scientists say that it is aerodynamically impossible for it to fly, yet fly it does. This big fellow makes his nest in the ground and his body sports colors like the big football jock he resembles, in his case, bright yellow combined with black. He is a harmless lad, who rarely if ever stings and he is kind to home, trellis, and chair.

But perhaps you're harboring a very bee of a different sort. When you look overhead at your grape trellises, do you see tunnels, and what looks like a big, black bumble bee emerging? Then you are now hosting carpenter bees and more's the pity since they can do a real number on the unpainted wood in your favorite chair, grape arbor or even the sides of the house. Like Zorro, of old, these bees are never yellow, just a sleek black from head to toe and they make your Casa their Casa.

Look up. These bees are not underground, but in the wood of your home, grape arbor, rose trellis and garden furniture. Bees emerging from the ground are your harmless friend, bumble. But if you see bees emerging from holes in the Adirondack chairs or from the sides of the house, slap on some caulking quick. Sealing their doorways is an important step in rolling up the welcome map. Left unmolested, the bees can tunnel as much as ten feet across.

Applying pesticide is another carpenter bee remedy and relatively safe chemicals licensed for home use are available. Raid is among the companies that market pesticides effective against carpenter bees. Spray in the evening to assure that the bees have returned from their labors and are safely at home.

Carpenter bees are not especially aggressive, and at any rate, the males lack stingers entirely, so this is not a terribly dangerous job. Just wear protective clothing, less to protect you from the bees than from the bee-killing chemical. And as with any job that involves chemicals, wash after-wards.

For a serious infestation of these bees, professional extermination is your only choice, so try not to let them get a foothold. Carpenter bees feast on unpainted wood. Keep your wood well-painted. Alas, preservatives and stains are not often sufficient to deter these hungry pests so either paint or switch to vinyl siding.

The Carpenter bee, while not a welcome guest is one easily dislodged. Once he is gone, keep the wood painted and inspect for signs of re-infestation. Painting wood, caulking tunnels and applying over-the-counter pesticides is usually enough to send him packing.

Sources:
http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-carpenter-bees.htm