What Are Carpenter Bees Looking For?

Carpenter bees are probably the most unwanted visitors, and they have been visiting you quite often lately.  Why are they such a problem only for your home and not those in the neighborhood? 

We can tell you it's no accident that they bore holes in your porch rather than hundreds of trees nearby. The reason is that they find your home more favorable than others. These unwanted guests are fond of untreated wood, flowering plants, overhanging roofs, and even existing nest tunnels around your place.

     

If your home has some of these characteristics, we advise you to keep reading. We'll discuss what these fuzzy insects are looking for so that you'll become better at protecting yourself from bees.

Untreated Wooden Structures

Carpenter bees create their dwellings in wood, so consequently, the more wooden structures your home has, the more inviting they'll perceive it. Thus, you can often spot them on decks, rafters, eves, fascia boards, wood shake roofs, and even your patio dining set. 

They exhibit a strong preference for bare, unpainted, weathered wood, particularly softer variations like redwood, cedar, cypress, and pine. So, if you want to draw them away from your place, you must have painted or pressure-treated wood that is much less prone to attacks. 

Lush Flowers

If you have colorful blooms on your patio, you've certainly spotted a carpenter bee hovering in your fragrant blossom during warmer months. These pollinators simply love lush flowers that produce a lot of nectar. Their go-to choices are daylilies, zinnias, oregano, salvia, lavender, and bee balm, but their ultimate favorite is, of course, passion flowers. 

So, it comes as no surprise why nearly every passionflower in your garden is covered in carpenter bees. They fit perfectly in the flowers’ yellow thorax.

Structures With Overhangs

A female carpenter bee may have chosen to nest at your place because it's a well-sheltered location away from the exterior elements and predators. Their ultimate choices are eaves and corners where the roof overhangs. After all, they do this to protect their nests from rain, snow, debris, and other birds.

Existing Nest Tunnels

Carpenter bees tend to visit spaces where they have previously nested. They return to these spots each year and use ready-made, constructed holes instead of making new ones adjacent to pre-existing tunnels. Their dwellings grow more elaborate with each new generation.

Let Bee’sNThings Help You

There are plenty of easy and safe methods to eliminate these frustrating yet ingenious insects. But if your carpenter bee issues have gone too far, you might need stronger preventive strategies for carpenter bee infestation removal. Contact Bee’sNThings, and we'll provide the most effective solution for you.