WHAT IS ATTRACTING CARPENTER BEES TO MY PROPERTY?

by Jarrett Webster

Most homeowners don’t notice carpenter bees on their properties until they start causing damage to their structures. Since they look just like bumblebees, they’re easy to ignore. Don’t make that costly mistake. If you’ve noticed carpenter bees on your property, it’s time to figure out what’s attracting them so that you can take action to remedy the problem with bee traps before it gets any worse.

Learn about the top-five carpenter bee attractants below to get started:

1. NECTAR AND POLLEN

All flowers produce nectar and pollen, and all bees eat these substances. That includes carpenter bees. Those perfectly maintained vibrant flower beds might don’t just look fantastic to residents and guests. They’re also an open invitation to carpenter bees and other stinging insects, so you might want to reconsider their placement if you have them planted right next to your house or outbuildings.

2. UNTREATED WOOD

bees in woodCarpenter bees make their nest tunnels in wood. They prefer untreated lumber instead of pressure-treated lumber, but they may not be too picky if nest locations are scarce.

Here are just a few of the most common areas for carpenter bee nests:

  • Old fences
  • Stacked firewood
  • Sheds
  • Decks
  • Gazebos
  • Pergolas

Other structures made out of untreated wood

3. WOOD SIDING

Everyone loves wood siding, including carpenter bees. If you’re having a severe bee problem, you might want to take it as an excuse to look into a siding upgrade. There are plenty of vinyl and fiber options available that look just like wood without attracting unwanted insects.

4. UNCOVERED PLANK ENDS

It’s common for carpenter bees to access a piece of wood by boring into the plank’s untreated end. They then follow the grain up into the wood and can wreak untold structural damage before you even notice they are in there. Make a point of covering untreated plank ends with aluminum flashing to prevent carpenter bee damage.

5. OLD NESTS

bee nestsGetting rid of carpenter bees isn’t a once-and-done ordeal. If you’ve had an infestation in the past, new colonies will gladly take up residence in those old nests. They’ll then start expanding on the tunnels and creating even more damage.
If you’ve had carpenter bees in the past, chances are you’ve already tried to seal off their tunnels. These insects can be very stubborn. Unless you manage to seal them off entirely or just replace the affected wood, new ones will just keep coming back.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

The first thing you’ll need to do is get rid of the bees. Buy tunnel traps, and larger outdoor bee traps to lure the bees in and ensnare them before they can destroy any more of your home or sting one of its occupants. You can get all the traps you need from BeesNThings. Once the bees are gone, purchase bee dams to close up their tunnels properly. If you don’t take this step, new ones will just keep coming back.

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