What Attracts Carpenter Bees?

by Cliff Davis

Carpenter bees or Xylocopa are big and problematic insects that beekeepers often struggle with. They are important pollinators that help reproduce wild plants and various crops, but they are known to cause infestations and severe wood damage.

These pests will likely cause several problems to the homes of beekeepers or any wooden structure they stumble upon, which is why preventing their infestations is important. By effectively trapping these carpenter bees, you can reduce infestation risks and lower their population in the area at the same time. 

Learning to identify them and noticing and monitoring their patterns of damage will give you an insight into their behavior. We will teach you how to get rid of these problematic bees quickly and effectively!

How To Identify and Differentiate Between Bumblebees and Carpenter Bees


How To Identify and Differentiate Between Bumblebees and Carpenter Bees

As a part of the Hymenoptera family, you can recognize carpenter bees as the darker, less fluffy version of bumblebees. These insects are similar in size and look, but their main differences lie in their behaviors, patterns, and nesting habits.

Carpenter bees are larger than bumblebees and have black-blue-yellow patterns, while bumblebees have a repeating black and yellow stripe pattern. Due to their solitary nesting habits, carpenter bees are less likely to display stinging and aggressive behaviors than bumblebees.

What Attracts Carpenter Bees to Your Home?

Like any other insect, carpenter bees are prevalent in specific seasons and get attracted to certain elements and smells. Be wary of these factors that influence their presence around your home or garden:

  • The type, condition, and location of wooden structures: Carpenter bees often target these less maintained, untreated, and inaccessible wooden elements, such as the roof, deck, overhangs, and fences, which can become their nesting spots. 

  • Existing nesting sites and flowering plants: These pests are more likely to target a home with a garden and an already existing infestation by following another bee’s presence and the smell of flowering plants.

  • Specific seasons and weather changes: Carpenter bees become active and search for nesting locations as soon as the weather gets warm in early spring and continue until early summer. 

    • How To Recognize a Carpenter Bee Infestation

    A carpenter bee infestation is not easily spotted as it progresses gradually. Here are the most common indicators that you are dealing with an infestation:

  • Significant Wood Damage: Easily spottable stains, rot, and damage, such as holes up to 1 inch in diameter, are followed by wood shavings and sawdust, which signify recent bee activity. 

  • Bee Activity and Buzzing Sound: Carpenter bees vibrate and make buzzing sounds when they hover around their nesting sites. You can also encounter them near flower pots searching for pollen and nectar.

  • Nest Galleries and Visible Holes: You can spot deep holes with smooth entrance tunnels and complex galleries made for nesting purposes.

    • Preventive Measures That Help Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

    Prevention is key when it comes to carpenter bee infestation. Here is what you can do to avoid carpenter bees damaging your home and garden:

    • Wood Inspection and Maintenance: Keep the bees away by regularly inspecting, cleaning, and maintaining the wooden elements in your home and garden. Ensure everything is clean, sealed, painted, and polished to avoid further damage.
  • Garden Upkeep: Avoid planting flowers and opt for nonflowering plants that don’t attract any types of bees, such as ferns, horsetails, and cycads.

  • Get Carpenter Bee Traps: Hanging wooden traps mimic bee nests and attract carpenter bees, trapping them in a plastic container where they can’t escape. They are the best low-maintenance solution for bee infestations and will prevent further wood damage.

    • Protect Your Home From Carpenter Bees 

    Don’t let pests damage your home, and prevent carpenter bee infestations. Follow our advice and use the right prevention measures to identify and prevent infestations effectively.

    Use the most effective method and get the best carpenter bee traps from Bee's N Things! Contact us, make your purchase, and show us your catch!

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