Carpenter bees can dig into your MS deck or porch. Here’s how to keep them away
With spring in full bloom across Mississippi, pollinators — like bees and butterflies — are back to their nectar-collecting habits.
But not all buzzing creatures are helpful to have around the home. Carpenter bees, pests named for their habit of creating homes by excavating tunnels inside wood structures, can do more harm than good.
Here’s what to know about carpenter bees to keep them from causing structural damage to Mississippi homes, decks and fences.
Where do carpenter bees live in MS?
Carpenter bees like to nest in “windowsills, doors, roof eaves, shingles, railings, telephone poles, and wooden lawn furniture,” according to Arrow Exterminators.
“If you see a bumblebee-like insect flying under the eaves of your home or hovering in one spot, chances are you’ve spotted a carpenter bee,” experts said.
What do carpenter bees look like?
Carpenter bees are some of the largest native bees in the U.S., along with bumblebee queens, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
They have smooth, shiny, black bodies and either white or black faces, depending on the gender of the individual, according to the Mississippi State Extension.
Do carpenter bees sting?
Sometimes. While male carpenter bees can’t sting, females can but rarely do unless provoked, experts said.
How to know if you have carpenter bees
You’ll know if you have carpenter bees around because their nesting caverns have a unique pattern of round half-inch holes that usually go against the grain of the wood, experts at Arrow Exterminators said.
What to do to keep carpenter bees away
No one wants a pesky insect ruining their outdoor furniture or worse: the structure of their homes.
Here’s what to do to keep carpenter bees away, according to Arrow Exterminators:
- Paint and stain wood
- Use citrus spray, lavender oil, tea tree oil and almond oil as deterrents
- Vinyl siding and hardwoods can keep carpenter bees away
- Replace damaged wood and keep wood painted and well maintained
