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Key Points
- Carpenter bees are drawn to untreated, soft, or rotting wood, making these materials prime nesting spots.
- They reuse nesting tunnels over generations, which can lead to significant structural damage.
- They thrive in sunny, dry areas and are attracted to gardens with abundant flowering plants.
Carpenter bees are excellent pollinators. But unlike their close relative, the honeybee, they're not necessarily the kind you want to attract to your home. True to their name, carpenter bees chew into solid wood to create their nests.
"A single nesting tunnel might not seem like it's a big issue, but these tunnels are typically reused by future generations," says Rick Culbreth Jr., third-generation operator of Yates-Astro Termite and Pest Control. "This repeated nesting activity can cause a significant amount of structural damage over time."
If you've been seeing more carpenter bees buzzing around your home lately, here's what could be making your yard an ideal place for them to dwell.
Meet the Experts
- Rick Culbreth Jr. is a third-generation pest control operator and president of Yates-Astro Termite and Pest Control, a family business headquartered in Savannah, Georgia.
- Emma Grace Crumbley is an entomologist at Mosquito Squad Plus.
Untreated, Soft, or Rotting Wood
Perhaps you have some unfinished wood projects lingering around your yard or a pile of plywood you've been meaning to haul off. If either statement rings true and you have also been seeing an uptick in carpenter bees, it's a correlation worth looking into (and a good motivation to finally tend to your to-do list).
"Carpenter bees are most commonly attracted to untreated wood, as well as softer wood species like balsa or plywood, because they are easier to drill into and create nesting tunnels compared to hardwood materials like teak, cedar and mahogany," says entomologist Emma Grace Crumbley. "If your deck, porch or other wooden structures around the home are constructed with softer or untreated wood, it will make your backyard far more appealing to carpenter bees."
And just as untreated and soft wood makes for great nesting material, so does rotting wood. That's why Crumbley says to inspect your yard for any decaying wood, like firewood or old tree stumps.
Existing Gaps, Cracks, and Crevices in Wooden Structures
Carpenter bees are actually pretty intelligent creatures. If they come across any pre-existing holes in your outdoor wood structures, they're going to take full advantage of the opportunity to cut down on some of their work.
"They prefer to drill into existing gaps, cracks and crevices to tunnel their nests, so it's important to regularly inspect any wooden structures around the home and seal any openings to reduce carpenter bee activity," Crumbley says.
Warm, Sunny Areas Around Your Home
When Culbreth Jr. receives a call about carpenter bees, one of the first places he looks for their activity is in the sunniest areas surrounding the home.
"Carpenter bees thrive in warm environments that receive direct sunlight," he says. "Areas like roof eaves, porch ceilings, and railings that receive full sun exposure are primary targets for these insects. They also prefer dry, protected areas that are more likely to protect their tunnels from moisture and predators."
While you can't keep the sun from shining, you can create more shade in your yard in areas that are extra susceptible to carpenter bee activity.
Flowering Plants and Gardens
This is unfortunate news for any avid gardeners out there, but carpenter bees love blooms just as much as hummingbirds and butterflies.
"Carpenter bees, like other pollinators, are drawn to yards that have abundant gardens," Culbreth Jr. says. "Homes with a lot of flowering plants can attract carpenter bees simply because they provide a prominent food source for them."
But this doesn't mean you need to dig up your roses and cut down your zinnias. Rather than getting rid of your garden, focus your efforts on the other ways you can make your yard less attractive to carpenter bees.
Read the original article on The Spruce
