Bees buzzing around your porch or deck and dive-bombing you? Chances are you have carpenter bees. These bees get their name because they drill holes into wood to lay their eggs. While they’re not particularly known to sting humans (only the female can sting, although the males are more aggressive), they can cause serious damage to your home if left untreated. So, what can you do to get rid of carpenter bees naturally? Keep reading to find out.
What are carpenter bees, and what do they look like?
Carpenter bees are large, black and yellow bees that look similar to bumblebees. Unlike bumblebees, however, carpenter bees have a bare, shiny abdomen. They are also known to hover around wood rather than flowers like other types of bees.
Carpenter bees get their name because they drill holes into wood to lay their eggs. Once they find a suitable spot, they excavate a circular tunnel that leads to a series of brood cells where they lay their eggs.
Females will lay anywhere from six to ten eggs per cell and can create up to eight cells in one nesting site. After the larvae hatch, they are fed pollen and nectar by the adults until they are ready to emerge from their cells and start the cycle all over again.
Carpenter bees are not particularly known to sting humans, although the males are more aggressive. The female bee can sting if she feels threatened, but it is rare. The main concern with carpenter bees is the damage they can cause to your home.
How to get rid of carpenter bees naturally
The best way to get rid of carpenter bees is to prevent them from getting into your home in the first place. Here are some tips on how you can do that:
Seal any cracks or holes in your wooden structures. Carpenter bees are attracted to weathered or unpainted wood, so it’s important to make sure your wooden structures are in good repair. If you have any cracks or holes, seal them with caulk or putty.
Paint or varnish your wooden structures. This will make it harder for carpenter bees to drill into the wood.
Repair any damaged wood. If you have any wood that carpenter bees have damaged, repair it as soon as possible.
Keep your yard clean. Remove any woodpiles or other potential nesting sites from your yard.
If you already have carpenter bees in your home, don’t worry – there are still things you can do to get rid of them. Here are some natural ways to get rid of carpenter bees:
Carpenter bee traps are a great way to naturally get rid of carpenter bees. You can buy these traps at your local hardware store or make your own.
There are a few distinct designs, but they all work on the same principle: carpenter bees enter the trap through a little hole or opening and then become trapped.
Adding some non-toxic bee trap lure may make the bee trap even more appealing. They will dehydrate and die if you don’t release them as soon as possible.
Citrus spray
The smell of citrus repels carpenter bees. You can buy commercial citrus spray, but it is cheaper and easy to homemade: cook citrus peels in boiling water for several hours, then pour the cooled liquid into a spray bottle once done. Use this mixture to drench areas where carpenter bees nest and/or anywhere else you see them congregating.
Loud noise
Carpenter bees dislike loud noises. Loud music could be played near their nesting sites to drive them away. This won’t hurt them, but it will urge them to depart. However, you should contact your neighbors first.
Vacuum carpenter bees
If carpenter bees are nesting in a reachable area, you can remove them. If you have a good bee vacuum or a low-suction wet/dry vac powerhead, they won’t be harmed. If you use your typical powerful vacuum cleaner, it’s very likely that they will be killed. Make careful to release them far from your house or property once they’ve been in the vacuum.
Diatomaceous earth is a powdery, fine material produced from fossilized algal cells. It’s abrasive and kills mites by puncturing insect exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate and die. Sprinkling this into and over Carpenter Bee holes will achieve the same end.
Vinegar
Adult carpenter bees will be repelled, and the eggs and larvae inside will be destroyed by vinegar. Spray the vinegar into each of the carpenter bee holes.
Conclusion
While carpenter bees can cause damage to your home, there are several ways to get rid of them naturally. By taking some preventive measures and using some of the above methods, you can get rid of carpenter bees for good.
