Carpenter bees are considered the arch-nemesis of wooden structures. If you have patio with a wooden deck or framework surrounding it, you’ll need to protect yourself against these pesky little insects.
While they very rarely attack people, female carpenter bees use their razor-sharp mandibles to eat through the wooden structures where they can build nests for their brood. This destructive behavior can leave homeowners with costly damages that may even jeopardize the safety and integrity of their patios.
Thankfully, there are ways to deal with carpenter bees and reduce the chance of them coming back.
First and foremost, you should go around the wooden structures on your patio to see if carpenter bees are truly a problem. Some homeowners will have to constantly fight these pests away each spring, while others may never see them.
The easiest way to identify a carpenter bee infestation is by looking for piles of sawdust on or around the wooden structures. When a female carpenter bee burrows through the wood, she will discard the majority of the wood chips out through her mouth, which leaves behind a pile of material that resembles sawdust below.
If you see it, check around for holes where the bee is currently staying. You can then either spray some insecticide into the hole or place a small piece of steel wool into it and close it off with caulk.
Finishing The Wood
This method isn’t going to completely prevent carpenter bees, but it will help deter them.
Go to your local home improvement store and pick up a couple cans of premium waterproof wood finish and paint it over the wooden structures. Most carpenter bees prefer unfinished wood to burrow through instead of this chemical-tasting finish.
Insecticide
You can go one step further by coating the wooden structures around your patio with a professional-grade insecticide, such as Seven Dust.
This stuff is quite powerful and will kill any bees that come into contact with it. Just follow the instructions labeled on the packaging to determine how much water it needs to be mixed with.
Once it’s mixed together, use a spray applicator to hose down the wooden areas of your patio. When carpenter bees land on it, the insecticide will stick to their bodies and kill them.
Just remember to keep a fresh coat of insecticide on any wooden structures that need protected. A good rule of thumb is to go back over it with a fresh coat every month for optimal protection.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
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