CARPENTER BEE NESTS
NEWTOWN PA

References to "carpenter bee nests" are somewhat misleading. That is because carpenter bees are not social insects like honey bees and bumble bees.

Carpenter bees are solitary insects, so they have no need to build a nest that will house hundreds or thousands of colony members. They will instead bore into wood to create burrows in which their young can grow.

If carpenter bees construct these burrows in a tree, then it does not necessarily cause a problem. The issue with this species is that it is notorious for burrowing into wood that is part of man-made structures ranging from fences to the eaves and siding of buildings.

It is common for successive generations of carpenter bees to continue to nest in the same general area year after year, creating the potential for considerable structural damage.

DO CARPENTER BEES NEST?

This species requires a much different habitat when compared with other bee species. While other species construct large nests in the ground or suspend a hive from a tree or utility pole, the carpenter bee remains solitary. They do not use underground burrows, nor do they build hives.

Carpenter bees overwinter in a sealed-up tunnel, only to emerge in the spring when they have a period of less than one month to mate. After mating, the female must locate food and the ideal nesting site for her young.

She may create one or more burrows in soft wood to construct nesting galleries in which she will lay eggs. Throughout this time, the male hovers protectively outside of the burrows. His job is to ensure that other males do not interfere with this process.

A single carpenter bee nest can grow to between two and four feet in a single season. With construction and egg laying complete, both bees die inside the nest.

WHAT DO CARPENTER BEE NESTS LOOK LIKE?

Like pests such as carpenter ants and termites, carpenter bees damage wood. Usually, it is the soft, untreated wood that looks most appealing because it is easier to dig into.

Typically, the hole that the female digs will be one-half inch in diameter. It appears to be perfectly round and symmetrical and is chewed in perpendicular to the wood grain. Once they have established an entrance, it is possible that the female will construct several tunnels that branch off from each other. She chews with the wood grain to make these tunnels because this is far easier.

Such a nest can be used for multiple years, and it is possible that several females will make use of the same nest. Even if the entrance ends up being shared, each female is likely to build her own tunnels and to gather food and seal off cells that she created, each one of which contains her own eggs.

HOW BIG ARE CARPENTER BEE NESTS?

The size of a particular carpenter bee nest may depend upon several factors. These include how many years the nest has been in use and whether or not multiple females have chosen to use the same entrance, which means that each female may dig her own tunnels. This understandably will make any given nest larger.

Typically, the female begins by boring a hole about one-inch deep into a piece of wood. From the completed entrance, the female will bore with wood grain, usually traveling about four to six inches. She may construct multiple tunnels branching off of a single opening.

If the same nest is repeatedly used in successive seasons, it can reach several feet in length. The result may be massive structural damage.

DO CARPENTER BEES NEST IN THE GROUND?

Several bee species are known to prefer an underground habitat for nesting. These include the ubiquitous and solitary Colletes inaequalis, otherwise known as the unequal cellophane bee, digger bees, leafcutter bees, mason bees and sweat bees. Even bumble bees and yellow jacket wasps will sometimes nest in the ground.

Although carpenter bees are solitary like many of these other species, they do not use burrows or nests in the ground. They are only ever found in sticks that they have hollowed out or in the wooden tunnels that the females construct in various man-made structures.

WHEN DO CARPENTER BEES NEST?

The carpenter bee life cycle is quite predictable. A typical bee will survive for one full year, with new generations being hatched late in each summer. These newly hatched individuals emerge from their nests in August or September. Their job is to eat and grow, while doing some pollinating along the way. Before the winter, they will return to their burrow to hibernate.

Individuals that survive the winter will come back out of the nest in April or May, when they must quickly find a mate to begin the cycle over again. The female carpenter bee soon begins making new tunnels for her offspring. In each brood chamber that she makes, she will lay an egg and leave behind a supply of food. By July, the adult carpenter bees die, leaving the subsequent generation to emerge in the next one to two months.

HOW LONG DO CARPENTER BEES NEST?

Once it is built, a carpenter bee nest may be used year after year. Young will sometimes return to the tunnel from which they emerged in order to expand upon it. It further is possible that a new generation of females will construct new entrance holes and tunnels adjacent to older, existing tunnels.

The carpenter bees will continue this process year after year unless the property owner decides to evict them. Once an infestation is discovered, it is wise to take action as this minimizes the damage, makes the pests easier to control and is less expensive to address.

WHERE TO FIND CARPENTER BEES NESTS

Females of the species much prefer wood that is untreated, unpainted and in generally poor condition. Effectively, this wood is softer and much easier for the carpenter bee to excavate.

Such wood may be found in trees, but carpenter bees are known for attacking anything that is made of wood including fences, decks, outdoor furniture, eaves, siding and roofing shakes.

Certain pieces of wood may be used for nesting over the course of years. Property owners may observe wood that is marred by many one-half inch diameter holes in the surface. The damage actually goes much further than that, with each hole having the potential to provide access to many tunnels.

Additionally, these holes may invite unwanted moisture, which leads to decay and rot.

HOW TO REMOVE A CARPENTER BEE NEST

A property owner who discovers a single, perfectly round hole in an exterior door or wall may be in luck. This may be a sign that a carpenter bee infestation is in its earliest stages and therefore will be easier to control.

Using wood putty or a dowel and carpenter's glue, it is possible to seal up that hole so that it can no longer be used.

Property owners who are seeing much more potential damage from carpenter bees are encouraged to contact a pest management professional. It may be necessary to use safe yet effective specialized products that will drive out or eliminate the carpenter bee population before repairs are effected.

In fact, property owners are encouraged to contact a pest control company whenever they find disturbing signs on their buildings. The unfortunate reality is that where one carpenter bee nest lurks, others are likely present. A pest control technician is trained to find and eliminate these nests.

NESTS CAN HOUSE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS

It bears repeating that carpenter bee nests may be used over and over again. Not only will these pests use the same entrance hole over multiple seasons but also females may excavate new entrances and tunnels in the same piece of wood.

The result may be a structural element on a building that is virtually hollowed out if the problem is not addressed. Even if the hollowed-out wood is not critical to the integrity of the structure, it is still complicated and expensive to have a carpenter perform the necessary repairs.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A CARPENTER BEE NEST

When property owners notice signs like large, buzzing insects flying around the exterior of a building and impeccably round holes in the building's walls, doors or window frames, it is time to take action.

Typically, carpenter bee infestations continue to become more pronounced unless they are proactively stopped. People who have not noticed this kind of insect activity but are concerned about it occurring are encouraged to repair or replace any damaged wood on the property. Painting or staining all wood is another tried-and-true method for beating carpenter bees.

When the problem is already underway, the most sensible course of action is to hire a licensed pest management professional to inspect the premises. The technician can diagnose any pest problems and propose common-sense treatment options.

With repairs complete and the carpenter bee population once again under control, the property is protected against further infestations as well.

HOW WE TREAT FOR CARPENTER BEES

Proper carpenter bee control involves a series of steps, including the application of insecticides, dusts, and the sealing of existing holes. The selected insecticide is used as the initial form of treatment, followed by the injection of a specific dust formulation which provides residual protection. Finally, entrance holes are plugged after the carpenter bee colony has been given sufficient time to distribute the treatment products throughout the nest area.

Newtown Termite & Pest Control utilizes a multi-faceted approach to eradicating the unwanted bees. When combined, the processes work together to ensure that your Newtown home or office remains a pest-free environment.

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