Carpenter Bee Treatment

Viking Pest Control has built a strong reputation as a regional expert in carpenter bee control and pest management throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Carpenter bees are destructive wood-boring pests that damage homes and businesses. They tunnel into exposed wood, creating unsightly holes that can lead to costly repairs. Early detection and proven prevention strategies are essential to stop carpenter bee infestations before they spread.

Viking Pest Control provides expert carpenter bee control throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Our certified carpenter bee exterminators deliver fast, effective treatments and long-term prevention for residential and commercial properties. Whether you’re dealing with active carpenter bees or want to protect your property, Viking offers reliable, award-winning solutions backed by a satisfaction guarantee.

Table of Contents

• What are Carpenter Bees?
  • Do Carpenter Bees Sting?
  • Are Carpenter Bee Stings Dangerous?
• How do I Identify Carpenter Bees?
  • How Do I Tell the Difference Between a Carpenter Bee and a Bumblebee?
  • Why are Carpenter Bees Drilling Holes in My House?
  • What do Carpenter Bee Holes Look Like?
• How Did I Get Carpenter Bees?
• What are the Effects of Carpenter Bees In and Around My Home or Business?
• How Long Do Carpenter Bees Live?
• How Do I Prevent Carpenter Bees?

What are Carpenter Bees?

Carpenter bees are a large species of bees that can be found throughout the Mid-Atlantic This big black bee looks similar to bumblebees but can be accurately identified when you understand the differences between the two. Female carpenter bees bore holes into wood to build their nests and lay eggs. This creates round holes in the wood that can be found in many different areas around your home or business including siding, fences, trees, lawn furniture, and swing sets.

Do Carpenter Bees Sting?

Female carpenter bees can sting humans, but will only do so if provoked. They are typically found in their nests or foraging nectar.  Getting stung by one is exceedingly unlikely unless you are deliberately trying to handle them. Male carpenter bees do not have stingers and do not pose a threat. They will, however, fly at you aggressively to drive you away if you get too close to their nesting sites.

Are Carpenter Bee Stings Dangerous?

While female carpenter bee stings can be painful, they are not inherently more dangerous than any other bee sting. That said, they can pose a serious, even life-threatening risk to anyone who is allergic to bee stings. If you have never been stung by a bee before and don’t know if you’re allergic, we strongly recommend that you avoid handling or interacting with female carpenter bees.

How do I Identify Carpenter Bees?

Carpenter bees are large, black, and yellow bees with plump bodies and fuzzy yellow backs. They have six legs, dark wings, and a smooth black abdomen. They are typically found near their nests, which they dig into softwood that is frequently used in home construction.

How Do I Tell The Difference Between a Carpenter Bee and a Bumblebee?

Carpenter bees are easy to confuse with bumblebees because they have several physical similarities. The size, shape, and coloring of these two types of bees are similar. One noticeable physical difference between the two can be found on the abdomen. Bumblebees have a fuzzy abdomen, while carpenter bees have a shiny black abdomen. You can also distinguish carpenter bees from other types of bees by their behavior. Bumblebees live in colonies with many others, but carpenter bees are solitary and only share their nest with a mate and eggs. 

Why are Carpenter Bees Drilling Holes in My House?

Carpenter bees bore into wood to create a nesting and egg-laying site that is safe from predators and the elements. They will typically overwinter in these nests.

What do Carpenter Bee Holes Look Like?

How Did I Get Carpenter Bees?

Carpenter bees are a common sight in eastern states such as Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. If you have wood in or around your home or business, you are at risk of developing a carpenter bee problem. These pests bore into softwoods like pine and cedar to build their nests and lay eggs.

What Are the Effects of Carpenter Bees in and Around My Home or Business?

Carpenter bees can cause significant cosmetic damage to your structure. Female carpenter bees bore holes into wood. The holes they create are large enough for them to enter and lay their eggs. Since these pests range in size from ¾ of an inch to one inch, the holes are large enough to be easily noticed. If you have unexplained holes in the wood around your house and notice fine sawdust nearby, it is a possible indication that you have a carpenter bee infestation. Look for these holes in wooden areas around your house or business, such as your deck, swing set, eaves, siding, patio furniture, or any wood surface.

How Long Do Carpenter Bees Live?

Male carpenter bees live for about a year. They die shortly after mating. Females, however, can live longer than two years. Female carpenter bees lay eggs in their nests during the warm months. As the cool weather approaches, they winter in the nests they created in the wood.

Without carpenter bee extermination, a new generation will emerge and repeat the cycle. Once eggs develop into adults, they leave the nest and go out on their own to bore more holes and lay more eggs.

How Do I Prevent Carpenter Bees?

A professional carpenter bee treatment can help protect your home or business from the damage these pests create.

A big part of effective carpenter bee control is learning about their behavior and preferences. Carpenter bees need nectar to survive. There is no way for you to eliminate the availability of nectar around your property, so you must focus on other aspects of their behavior, such as where they are most active and what types of wood they prefer.

Common areas around your home or business where carpenter bees tunnel include eaves, wood shingles, window and door trim, fascia boards, porches, decks, swing sets, wood railings, and fence posts. You can keep an eye out for carpenter bee activity around these areas once spring arrives by doing regular inspections. Discovering the presence of these pests around your property will allow you to act before they can cause widespread damage.

Successful carpenter bee prevention often requires the help of a professional carpenter bee exterminator. Before the spring arrives, you can bring in a pro to inspect your property for signs of previous carpenter bee activity. If nests are discovered, carpenter bee treatment can prevent the reemergence of these insects in the spring. When the weather warms up, a carpenter bee control professional can spot signs of activity and eliminate the carpenter bees before they do significant damage.

Learn More

Do Carpenter Bee Traps Work?
Carpenter Bee vs. Bumble Bee
Are Carpenter Bees A Threat in Essex?
Spotting Carpenter Bees Early: How to Prevent Wood Damage in Spring

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Protecting Your Home or Business From Carpenter Bees With Viking Pest Control

Viking Pest offers expert treatment designed to effectively and efficiently control and prevent pests from invading your home or business in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. Our use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques focuses on finding the core of the pest concern and controlling Carpenter Bees from the source. Through IPM, pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, pets, and the environment. Call Viking today for your FREE and NO OBLIGATION estimate at 1-800-618-2847 or Schedule Online today!