Carpenter Bee - Page 2

ContainerTed · April 25, 2017

I may not have been totally clear. I do not go looking for carpenter bees in dead trees. I only try to reduce the number that are assaulting my home. The rest I find are useful in buzzing around my beans and peas. We have a lot of un-pampered trees around here. We choose not to cut something down just because it's not pretty. We have a lot of oak, hickory, walnut, sycamore, poplar, alder, locust, pine and cedar trees and they are left alone for a variety of reasons - not to mention shade and scratching posts for the cattle. In the past seven years, I've had to replace 6 of the 12 shutters on the house and various segments of the trim on this brick house. I've had the roof replaced with steel and also had the soffits and all other trim replaced with sheet metal. So, in self defense, I let any carpenter bees that want to play up here at the main house know that they are not welcome.

We have several different kinds of bees and other pollinator critters that show up in the main garden each year. And, our experience is that the carpenter bees will bore thru some paint layers if they choose to. They are also not deterred by treated lumber, in fact seeming to prefer it.

So, there you are, my world. If I were rich or had won the lottery, I might let someone else worry about it. But my reality is that I refuse to allow critters to damage my home and will exercise "extreme prejudice" to protect my home. The carpenter bees that show up in the garden have nothing to fear from me. I've had them fly around me while picking beans. I don't go looking for their homes in trees to destroy where they live. But I want the same respect for where I live.

I'm done with my rant.

Happy gardening, y'all!!

brownrexx · April 25, 2017

I agree with you there Ted. I don't let them bore into my home either. I just didn't like the idea of what sounded like killing them in places like trees away from the home.

I get frustrated by things like this. I have neighbors who want to kill anything that trespasses on their precious lawns. Skunks deserve to die because they dig holes in the lawn (looking for beetle grubs) but then the same neighbors who want to kill the skunks spray poisons on their lawns to kill grubs. It drives me crazy.

I like to try to live in harmony with nature but of course I draw the line at letting insects or animals destroy my home as you said.

slugworth · April 25, 2017

they hate grease,so if I see a hole I smear old axle grease on it.

Worth1 · April 25, 2017

I had some carpenter bees show up at my house.
The SOB's wanted union wages so I sent them packing.

Worth

Spike2 · April 25, 2017

We have had some rain last night and a lot of wind. My bee wasn't at his post today and strangely I miss the little guy.

Brownrexx, I also have a set of neighbors that feel they have the right to kill anything in their yard (even loose dogs) and actually used to shoot rabbits IN MY GARDEN >,< My garden was on the other side of my yard from them. But good lord and butter don't set foot in their yard. I plant clover for the bunnies and can't get started tilling my garden until the Killdeer eggs hatch. So I tend to "live and let live".

b54red · April 27, 2017

About ten years ago my boat shed totally collapsed due to carpenter bees. It looked fine except for a few holes in the beams until one day the whole thing came crashing down and the beams were nothing but a thin shell of wood with a maze of tunnels hollowing them out. I have found that a spray of WD-40 in a carpenter bee hole will kill them pretty quick and then I just caulk it. Even with treated lumber then still bore into my new shed roof beams regularly and I have to be vigilant or the same thing will happen again. I never bother them anywhere but my home or shed when they have bored in.

Bill

brownrexx · April 27, 2017

I think that you probably have more of them in the south than we have here but they can be very destructive here too although I have never seen buildings fall down. The really bad thing that many people don't realize is that it's not just the hole that does the damage but they chew large galleries into the wood that connect to the hole and they can be as much as 2 feet long.

If they bore a hole you can fill it with expandable foam, caulk or stainless steel mesh. Don't use a regular steel wool pad because it will rust and make a rust stain on your house.

My Foot Smells · April 27, 2017

was the boat shack covered by insurance? I am kinda hoping that the carport collapses, so I can build it right and pocket some coin.

someone got me one of those "salt" guns (which humidity clogged) and they would just knock them down at point blank range but not kill.

I put the trap in a busy intersection on the carport rafter. it thins the herd.

I like to hear the snow crunch, but not so much bug underfoot. I hate the crunch of a cockroach and all that nasty slime.

slugworth · April 27, 2017

I once had a board the mailbox was mounted on and they turned it into one of those pacman mazes.

jtjmartin · April 27, 2017

I never saw a carpenter bee until we moved to Virginia. They bore into the trim on my house - even freshly painted trim. I live and let live - as long as they let me - live and let live. We have plenty of standing dead trees in the woods - they are welcome to them.

But, boring into my house is not going to happen without a response any more than squirrels chewing an entrance into my chimney. Preferred method of control on the ground - a backhand with my racquet ball racquet.

I will try the WD40 in the holes.

oakley · April 29, 2017

It is a timing issue for sealing the holes. Expanding foam is way too soft. They can chew
right back out quickly. It has been a while since i plugged some holes. I would re-visit a dozen googled suggestions if i need to fill again.
I was out this morning with the pups and did see a few buzzing around.
Boric acid works. Messy though. Our previous owners left a shelf of toxic stuff behind in
the garage.
The trick if i remember correctly is to get something in the hole during the day while
they are out. They carry it in when returning, then block the hole. Wire wool/steel wool
has a coating to prevent rust. Later caulk the hole with wood filler to match.

They like dry cut wood, not rotten forest trees or fresh live trees. Why they go after the
wood under your eaves. Out of wet weather.

April 25, 2017	#16
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	I may not have been totally clear. I do not go looking for carpenter bees in dead trees. I only try to reduce the number that are assaulting my home. The rest I find are useful in buzzing around my beans and peas. We have a lot of un-pampered trees around here. We choose not to cut something down just because it's not pretty. We have a lot of oak, hickory, walnut, sycamore, poplar, alder, locust, pine and cedar trees and they are left alone for a variety of reasons - not to mention shade and scratching posts for the cattle. In the past seven years, I've had to replace 6 of the 12 shutters on the house and various segments of the trim on this brick house. I've had the roof replaced with steel and also had the soffits and all other trim replaced with sheet metal. So, in self defense, I let any carpenter bees that want to play up here at the main house know that they are not welcome. We have several different kinds of bees and other pollinator critters that show up in the main garden each year. And, our experience is that the carpenter bees will bore thru some paint layers if they choose to. They are also not deterred by treated lumber, in fact seeming to prefer it. So, there you are, my world. If I were rich or had won the lottery, I might let someone else worry about it. But my reality is that I refuse to allow critters to damage my home and will exercise "extreme prejudice" to protect my home. The carpenter bees that show up in the garden have nothing to fear from me. I've had them fly around me while picking beans. I don't go looking for their homes in trees to destroy where they live. But I want the same respect for where I live. I'm done with my rant. Happy gardening, y'all!! __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch Last edited by ContainerTed; April 25, 2017 at 06:01 PM.

April 25, 2017	#17
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I agree with you there Ted. I don't let them bore into my home either. I just didn't like the idea of what sounded like killing them in places like trees away from the home. I get frustrated by things like this. I have neighbors who want to kill anything that trespasses on their precious lawns. Skunks deserve to die because they dig holes in the lawn (looking for beetle grubs) but then the same neighbors who want to kill the skunks spray poisons on their lawns to kill grubs. It drives me crazy. I like to try to live in harmony with nature but of course I draw the line at letting insects or animals destroy my home as you said.

April 25, 2017	#18
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	they hate grease,so if I see a hole I smear old axle grease on it.

April 25, 2017	#19
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I had some carpenter bees show up at my house. The SOB's wanted union wages so I sent them packing. Worth

April 25, 2017	#20
Spike2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 992	We have had some rain last night and a lot of wind. My bee wasn't at his post today and strangely I miss the little guy. Brownrexx, I also have a set of neighbors that feel they have the right to kill anything in their yard (even loose dogs) and actually used to shoot rabbits IN MY GARDEN >,< My garden was on the other side of my yard from them. But good lord and butter don't set foot in their yard. I plant clover for the bunnies and can't get started tilling my garden until the Killdeer eggs hatch. So I tend to "live and let live".

April 27, 2017	#21
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	About ten years ago my boat shed totally collapsed due to carpenter bees. It looked fine except for a few holes in the beams until one day the whole thing came crashing down and the beams were nothing but a thin shell of wood with a maze of tunnels hollowing them out. I have found that a spray of WD-40 in a carpenter bee hole will kill them pretty quick and then I just caulk it. Even with treated lumber then still bore into my new shed roof beams regularly and I have to be vigilant or the same thing will happen again. I never bother them anywhere but my home or shed when they have bored in. Bill

April 27, 2017	#23
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	was the boat shack covered by insurance? I am kinda hoping that the carport collapses, so I can build it right and pocket some coin. someone got me one of those "salt" guns (which humidity clogged) and they would just knock them down at point blank range but not kill. I put the trap in a busy intersection on the carport rafter. it thins the herd. I like to hear the snow crunch, but not so much bug underfoot. I hate the crunch of a cockroach and all that nasty slime.

April 27, 2017	#25
jtjmartin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b Posts: 1,110	I never saw a carpenter bee until we moved to Virginia. They bore into the trim on my house - even freshly painted trim. I live and let live - as long as they let me - live and let live. We have plenty of standing dead trees in the woods - they are welcome to them. But, boring into my house is not going to happen without a response any more than squirrels chewing an entrance into my chimney. Preferred method of control on the ground - a backhand with my racquet ball racquet. I will try the WD40 in the holes.

April 29, 2017	#26
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	It is a timing issue for sealing the holes. Expanding foam is way too soft. They can chew right back out quickly. It has been a while since i plugged some holes. I would re-visit a dozen googled suggestions if i need to fill again. I was out this morning with the pups and did see a few buzzing around. Boric acid works. Messy though. Our previous owners left a shelf of toxic stuff behind in the garage. The trick if i remember correctly is to get something in the hole during the day while they are out. They carry it in when returning, then block the hole. Wire wool/steel wool has a coating to prevent rust. Later caulk the hole with wood filler to match. They like dry cut wood, not rotten forest trees or fresh live trees. Why they go after the wood under your eaves. Out of wet weather.