Carpenter Bees

The carpenter bee “Xylocopa virginica” falls within the categories – “stinging insect” and “flying insect.” The species has both genders, male and female, both having unique features and capabilities. Differentiating between the two sexes is as simple as analyzing the head. The female’s head is completely black while her male counterpart has a patch of off-white fuzz on the front of its head.

Another less conspicuous difference is the stinger, which only pertains to the female. Initially, you may be under the impression that male carpenters are less dangerous than females because they are void a stinger. This could not be further from the truth. The male carpenter bee utilizes a defense technique, common among birds and bees, known as “dive-bombing.”

Why Is My Bamboo Infested With Carpenter Bees?

Carpenter bees have powerful mandibles “mouthparts” for feeding. The insect also utilizes its mandibles for building nests and defense. The mandibles are utilized to build nests for their young through a process known as “boring.” The entrance turns out to be just a little over half an inch, 0.63 inches, to be precise. The hole is large enough to permit full access to the male and female.

Contrary to belief, carpenter bees do not ingest the fine particles of wood left over from boring. Instead, the wood particles are recycled for various purposes or discarded where they fall.

Carpenter bees are drawn to softwood trees, such as pine, cedar, redwood, cypress, and fir. They are also known to bore holes into dead plant material.

Once the entrance is finished, the insect begins to tunnel through the wood. Since there is only one way in and out of the tunnel, carpenter bees can better guard their young with minimal fear of predator attacks.

Does The Male Carpenter Bee Pose Danger To Tame Animals?

It would seem, that the female carpenter bee with her stinger would be the more dangerous of the two sexes. Entomologists have determined that both males and females are equally dangerous. Why? Firstly, it is important to remember that the carpenter bee is a timid insect. With this in mind, the female will go out of her way to protect her young without the help of her stinger. Like the male, the female dive bombs what she views as a predator.

The female is a venomous insect. While her venom does not come close to ranking on the same level as the harvester ant “Pogonomyrmex maricop,” it can cause an allergic reaction in humans and animals. The severity of the allergic reaction will depend on the victim’s immune response.

Carpenter bees also pose a danger to softwood trees. The boring and tunneling utilized for building nests can lead to tremendous damage. Some property owners have reportedly been forced to cut down their softwood trees. In this case, the damage left behind is too great to save the trees.

In addition to boring and tunneling, carpenter bees attract the ambitious woodpecker. The bird is actually drawn to the female’s larvae.

What Is The Safest Way To Eradicate Carpenter Bees?

Entomologists cannot stress enough the dangers of carpenter bees. Even though experts believe the insect poses less risk than yellowjackets and hornets, it is dangerous, nonetheless.

The safest and most effective treatment plan is once drawn up by an experienced pest control expert. Unlike yellowjackets and hornets, carpenter bees utilize a less conspicuous nest for their young. Since the nests are hidden inside of softwoods, downed trees, and bamboo, animals and humans would be upon them before they realized it. At this point, you have unknowingly entered the carpenter bee’s personal space, per se.

Should Homeowners Tackle Carpenter Bee Alone?

No, the carpenter bee is an extremely dangerous insect species. Even with their timid nature, both males and females pose a danger to any animal or human that appears a threat.

Carpenter bees are solitary insects, but this does not make them any less dangerous. The female is notable for sharing her nest with other females. In other words, she opens her nest to other females. Females also tend to share in the responsibilities, such as building nests and foraging for food.

It is not recommended to attempt the removal of a carpenter bee nest without the property resources. Pest control experts utilize special safety gear and tools to ensure their safety during the extermination process.

Are Carpenter Bee Insecticides Eco-Friendly?

Insecticides are available in various brands and formulas. Well-known brands generally offer a selection of insecticide and pesticide formulas. The large selection of pest control products allows consumers more flexibility when finding suitable treatments.

Pesticide formulas include natural, organic, traditional, over-the-counter, industrial-grade, and chemical-based. Organic and natural pesticides are more suitable when a green extermination approach is preferred.

How Can I Maintain A Carpenter Bee-Free Backyard?

What most property owners do not know about carpenter bees is they generally utilize the same nest each mating season. Carpenter bees invest a lot of resources into building elaborate nests in the safest environments. To build new nests each mating season would not make sense. So, carpenter bees return to the same nest for as long as it is accessible.

The only effective prevention method for carpenter bees is nest removal. Pest management experts recommend removing all impacted trees and decaying wood from the property.

Do Pest Control Companies Offer Weekend Services?

Each pest management company has a unique operational process. However, most reputable service providers are open Monday through Friday. Weekends are generally reserved for emergency situations.

We can have your carpenter bee inspection request processed no later than 48 hours on weekdays. We reserve Saturday and Sunday for emergencies. We offer same-day and emergency services Monday through Friday per request.

Our technicians have decades of experience in the pest control industry. We value the safety of our clients and employees. Our extermination process and pest control products meet the Environmental Protection Agency “EPA” guidelines.

Be sure to take advantage of our free home inspection. At the end of the inspection, the technician will go over his findings.

If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.