The
Buzz of This Bee is More Like a Drill
The hum of the busy bee you hear these days may lead to the pile of sawdust on your floor, beneath your wooden swing, fence or the eaves of your home.
Known as the carpenter bee, this gnawing little pest is busy building its nest in any unpainted wood structure. A neat half-inch is gnawed about an inch deep in the wood, then the hole veers off into a right angle for 5 to 7 inches. When this is accomplished, nest building begins.
A ball of pollen is collected and deposited at the far end of the tunnel. An egg is deposited on the ball, and the area sealed off. The process is repeated until the tunnel is filled. The last egg laid is the first to emerge.
Let’s not confuse these neat carpenter bees with the bumblebee. The bumblebee builds its nest in the mulch of litter beneath plants or in compost piles. They are extremely aggressive, and will attack viciously when disturbed and will inflict multiple stings.
Carpenter bees are territorial and will dive bomb people who come too close to the nesting area. In most cases, when one carpenter bee finds a suitable nesting site, it is usually found by several others, too. Carpenter bees have the habit of hovering over or near the nest area and will chase off any intruder. The carpenter bee has an aggressive habit of flying at people which creates the fear of a sting. Stinging the intruder, however, occurs only rarely when people begin swinging at the bees and the bees get caught in clothing or hair.
One or two of this persistent flying insect should not concern the homeowner. But, multiple carpenter bees not only become a pest but their infestations could cause serious structural problems.
Treating the holes are recommended. But because the carpenter bee exhibits aggressive behavior when an intruder approaches, it is best to contact your professional pest control company which is familiar with controlling these bee infestations.