Carpenter Bees

Behind my gutter, there seems to be unfinished wood which annually attracts
Carpenter Bees. Every spring, I bring out the tennis racket, no not to play tennis, but to swat the male bees out of the air. The lack of males seems to make the ladies go away, and I no longer see the stains on the wood below the gutter. Is there a more effective way to handle the situation, besides taking the gutter off and painting the wood behind? Also, I live in NJ, and we have recently had some very warm weather. The other day I noticed four dead Carpenter Bees on the porch. Never seen that before. Anyone have any ideas as to what happened. I have not seen any other activity around the house. Could they be the female corpses that may have died over the winter?

 

You can try and caulk or seal up where they are slipping behind, otherwise chemical control might have some affect. usually you would have to treat each individual hole they bore with a dust or injection of some sort, but you said you dont want to take the gutter off. Bees usually tend to themselves, but if they are damaging your structure you might have to take that gutter off and treat each hole, or better off the whole board under the gutter to prevent them. And yes, the dead ones could be from old infestations. What I would do is call a local pest control company and ask them for advice, insects are different in different climates.

 

What chemical is recommended for Carpenter Bees? I have read Drione Dust? Or will your typical Ortho spray handle the situation? If I have to I will take the gutter off.

 

a dust will make sure nothing survives going into the holes, but it will not keep them from making new holes. The ortho spray i do not know much about. I do not use over the counter chemicals, but I am sure it will have some use. I would take gutter off, spray the ortho(if labeled for bees, the label will tell everything , what it is for and how to use it, most homeowners dont read the label) then dust the holes, then put the gutter back on and caulk up the crevice or opening they are squeezing behind!!
let meknow

 

Carpenter bees tunnel into wood to lay their eggs. They prefer unpainted and untreated soft woods. Redwood, cedar, cypress and pine are especially attractive. Painting or sealing all wood surfaces is recommended. Wood stains and preservatives offer less repellency. A residual insecticide can be sprayed on surfaces every couple of weeks to deter carpenter bees. If tunnels have already been made, puffing insecticide dust in holes will allow insecticide to travel through the tunnel. Aerosol sprays labeled for bees and wasps are also effective. Do not plug the hole for several days, giving the bees time to carry the insecticide throughout the tunnel. Holes should be plugged with wooden dowls coats with carpenter's glue or wood putty. This will prevent bees from using tunnels again and will provide protection of wood from decay. Note: insecticides are best used on bees at night when they are less active.