Replies

1. 
   Ray | May 26, 2006 06:22am | #1

   The little buggers made the rafters in my garage look like Swiss cheese.  I've had good luck with a spray can of "wasp and hornet killer".  Seems to have a pretty good residual and I've cut them down from swarms a couple of years ago to 5 or 6 bees this year.  They're kind of like Salmon, always return to their birthplace to lay more eggs.  It'll take a couple of seasons to break the cycle.

1. 
   bonesjunior | May 26, 2006 06:32am | #2

   I save the spray for the wasps! I do have fun with them if I'm looking for exercise, squash racket has a long handle and withe my long arms I canreach pretty good.Thanks.

2. 
   todd | May 26, 2006 12:40pm | #3

   Bones,
   Just got done editing some copy for a log home client on this subject. I snipped some info (long) and pasted it below. FWIW...probably more than you wanted to know...

   Take a few leftover log pieces from your home project – about 12” long – and drill a couple of ½” holes in them, about 1” deep. Hang them in trees around your home – the Carpenter bees will be attracted to their new ready-made homes. When activity is noted at the “hotels” follow the steps outlined below. A couple weeks after taking these actions the “hotels” can be taken down and burned to take care of the eggs, which will terminate the lifecycle.

   Another approach that we have heard of that works well is calling your local Ehrlich pest control. They have a product which, when sprayed on your home, has been proven to prevent infestations.

   The following is reprinted by permission from U-Spray, Inc., Lilburn, Georgia. For further information call toll-free at 1-800-877-7290, or e-mail at: [email protected].

   Carpenter Bees
   Carpenter bees are huge yellow and black bees which become active in early spring. They appear around homes and are a nuisance to those who reside there. Although it is rare to be stung by one, their sheer size is intimidating and people generally stay clear of them.

   Much more of a concern is their nest. It is likely that the female will go in or out, so patience will sometimes reward you by showing you exactly where their hole is. Let’s talk about their biology a little more so that you will understand how and what to do for control.

   BIOLOGY: Carpenter bees were named for their ability to drill through wood and next to it. Their drilling will create a nearly perfect hole approximately ½ -inch in diameter. This hole is usually located on the underside of any wood surface including siding, soffits, overhangs, decks, fence posts, fascia boards, and window frames. Although the hole appears to be only an inch or two deep, it rarely ends there. The female will turn 90 degrees and bore a channel from 6 inches to as long as 4 feet and sometimes more. This channel serves as a main corridor from which she will drill small chambers a few inches deep. These chambers become egg holders. She will deposit the eggs, bring in some food, and then seal it off to ensure its development. She will mostly stay in the nest and is usually not seen.

   The male spends most of this time flying around guarding the nest. This is ironic as nature has left him ill prepared to defend his domain: He has no stinger! Only the female has a stinger. Simply killing the male and unknowingly leaving the female will solve nothing. Even if you kill both, the young will develop and almost certainly re-infest your home as these bees seem to have some sort of homing instinct. They readily use old holes as new nest sites and tend to create new nests in close proximity of existing ones. Control is simple, if you follow the following steps.

   Control: You must use a long-lasting dust. We recommend Drione which is mostly silica gel. This dust must be pumped into the entrance hole with either its own applicator or a duster. Once you have pumped a good amount in the hole, you should listen to see if there is any activity. If the female was in there when you dusted, you should probably wait a day to seal the hole because even though Drione is fast acting, some females have been known to live long enough to drill a new hole when the old one is found to be closed. We recommend using a good strong plug such as our 1/2-inch corks and then some wood putty on top. Paint or stain to match the finish accordingly.

   The dusting of the hole will provide immediate control of the female but most importantly it will kill the young bees as they emerge from their next chambers. This is the key which stops the cycle. As for the male, if he is persistent and remains a nuisance you can use some wasp freeze on him for instant control. It is hard to imagine that he can not hurt you but getting rid of him generally makes everyone fell better. If left alone, he will probably relocate to another nest.

3. 
   notascrename | May 26, 2006 02:03pm | #4

   Don't know about control, but a can of 3-m super 77 spray adhesive can be quite entertaining.