Bees Nest Under Decking? The 154 Detailed Answer

One of the most popular questions about bees is how to get rid of a bumblebee nest. Bumblebees are social insects that tend to form colonies of their own. Each bumblebee colony has a single queen. Bumblebee colonies are usually not as large as honey bee colonies – typically there are around 40-50 bees per nest. Bumblebees can sting multiple times and be very painful. The good thing about bumblebees is that they tend to stay away from animals and people.

It is important that you do not kill bumblebees. Their population is already threatened and we need bumblebees in our ecosystem for many of our plants and foods to survive. Make sure you know what types of bees are in your garden or yard before attempting to ride them.

All that has been said here are three effective tricks to safely remove bees from your yard or garden:

1) Mixing up a vinegar spray is an easy way to get rid of bumblebees. Mix equal parts vinegar and water and pour into a spray bottle or can. Be sure to wear protective clothing and spray the hive at night while the bees are resting. That should be enough!

2) Citrus fruits are another good remedy for repelling bumblebees. Bring a pot of water to a boil with lemon slices in it. The water should boil down to about a third and then pour into the spray bottle. Spray this around the hive and on the surrounding flower beds.

3) The cutest way to get rid of bumblebees without killing them is to use cinnamon. Just sprinkle some ground cinnamon around the hive at night for a few weeks and they will eventually take the hint.

15 shares share

Pen

While wasps are important parts of the environment, most people don’t want to deal with them much. This is especially true on warm summer days when you’re lounging on the deck or porch, or sitting by the pool.

Just having wasps buzzing around can turn a fun time into a scary one. And if wasps decide to nest nearby, the situation could even become dangerous.

Luckily, you can keep wasps off your deck, porch, and pool. If you don’t know where to start, here are 15 solid options.

How to keep wasps off your deck, porch and pool

1. Hang decoy wasp nests

If paper wasps are your biggest concern, consider putting up a bait wasp nest. Wasps are territorial by nature. If they see a nest nearby, they won’t hang around.

With a baited nest, you make wasps think there is a colony in the area. By using a few paper nests, you reduce the chances of wasps settling near your garden or even flying through in search of food.

However, this approach usually works best in spring. This is the time when wasps make new nests. If you wait for the wasps to build a nest to set up a bait, it probably won’t work. You’ll have to try the approach next year to see results.

2. Use an ultrasonic pest repeller

No products found.

No products found.

Another deterrent-based approach involves using a non-toxic, non-chemical approach to keep wasps away. The device is plugged in and produces high-frequency tones and wavelengths when switched on.

While humans cannot hear or detect the sound waves, many pests can. Along with being able to keep wasps at bay, it can also deter mosquitoes, spiders, ants, cockroaches, and other insects from getting around. It often even works on rodents, which is a nice bonus.

Just note that some of the powerful versions are even audible to humans. This setting is usually only a good option when you’re away from home, so keep that in mind.

Additionally, your pets may be able to detect some of the lower power settings. This might make them uncomfortable while the device is in use, so you might not want to go this route if you have pets.

3. Create a “Wasp Plate”

If you’re planning on hosting a barbecue or picnic, the food you’re about to eat might attract wasps. As soon as they realize there’s a meal on your patio, patio or in your garden, you’ll see more arriving for a snack.

However, by creating a wasp plate, you can reduce the chances of them interrupting your meal. Take a small piece of raw meat and place it well away from the deck, porch, or patio about an hour before your gathering. The idea is to let the wasps find that plate and lure them to a spot away from your future location.

If you want to go the extra mile, make sure you don’t leave your food outside longer than necessary. By cleaning up quickly, you limit the chances of a wasp thinking your yard is an excellent spot for a meal.

4. Add a water source

Wasps can stop by your pool for one simple reason; you are thirsty Water is essential to their life, so wasps seek out our reliable sources while flying around.

If you want to prevent wasps from seeing your pool as a drinking fountain, consider providing an alternate water source. It will make your pool a less attractive option to have a drink.

One of the easiest approaches is to install a bird bath in a far corner of your yard. Just make sure to change the water regularly. Otherwise, it could stagnate and create a breeding ground for another pesky pest: mosquitoes.

5. Cover your pool when not in use

Another step to ensure your pool is not a water source for wasps is to cover it when not in use. With a pool cover, it becomes difficult to reach the water. As a result, fewer wasps will try to crawl underneath to get a sip.

Just make sure you choose a pool cover with an appropriate weight. This makes it easier for the edges to stay down, reducing the chance of creating gaps that wasps can easily pass through.

Also, back it up properly. If you want the cover to be effective, it needs to stay in place. If you don’t secure it, a windy day can be enough to dislodge the cover and reveal the pool below.

6. Set up wasp traps

No products found.

With a wasp trap, you lure the insects into a container by offering them a food source. Then once they’re in, they can’t get out. That means they won’t be floating around on your deck, porch, or patio.

You usually have two choices for wasp traps. First, you can make your own using an empty two-liter bottle. This approach is economical but can be a bit unsightly.

Second, you can buy ready-made wasp traps. You cannot find any products. as well as disposable wasp traps that give you a few options.

Homemade or reusable traps require you to craft bait. Usually, sugar water, apple cider vinegar, or a bit of beer are enough to get the effect.

7. Make a natural defense spray

Peppermint, clove, lemongrass, and geranium oils deter wasps. The same goes for white vinegar.

If you want to keep wasps away or discourage them from building nests in certain areas, natural repellent sprays are a good choice. If you go the vinegar route, get a spray bottle and use a 50/50 split of white vinegar and water. Add two drops of dish soap, shake and spray onto areas.

For the oil route, fill a spray bottle with water. Add 2 drops of dish soap and 10 drops of clove, lemongrass, or geranium oil. You can also use a combination of oils. Once in place, tighten the caps and shake the bottle before spraying generously over your patio, porch or pool.

8. Add the right plants to your garden

Essential oils aren’t the only way to deter wasps from making your deck, porch, or pool area at home. By adding the right plants to your garden, you can achieve a similar goal.

Mint, spearmint, lemongrass, citronella, thyme, and eucalyptus can make your space less attractive to wasps. They’re also relatively easy to care for, making them a good choice for anyone, regardless of whether they have a green thumb.

It doesn’t matter whether you plant them in the ground or in containers. Just spread them out in your yard and you might see fewer wasps.

9. Clean up after fruit-producing plants

Wasps like fruit, especially in the fall and winter. If you have fruiting plants, fallen fruit serves as a wasp meal.

Once the fruit is ripe, try to collect it from the tree or bush. That way, you have a chance to enjoy it while making sure it doesn’t become a snack for buzzing pests.

If you drop fruit on the floor, clean it up quickly. Otherwise there is a good chance wasps will stop by nearby for a bite.

10. Detach or relocate hummingbird feeders

Hummingbird nectar is essentially colored sugar water. In addition to attracting hummingbirds, the bird feeders can also be attractive feeding options for bees and wasps.

If you want to keep wasps off your deck, patio, or pool, make sure the bird feeders aren’t nearby. Place them in secluded areas of your garden where you won’t be disturbed if wasps stop by for a snack.

If you don’t have enough space in your yard to move the feeders around, you may need to dismantle them entirely. There is no way to stop the nectar from potentially attracting wasps, so this may be your only choice.

11. Don’t leave pet food outside

Pet food can attract wasps because they can use the pellets or wet food to feed themselves. Even though it’s more convenient to feed your cat or dog outdoors, you don’t want to skip the bowls. This is especially true if they are not empty.

Feeding your pets indoors is usually the easiest way to avoid attracting wasps. It prevents food from being accessible, including spilled or dropped parts. But it can also work to let them enjoy their food and then immediately carry the dishes back inside.

If you feed your pet outdoors and must leave the dishes outside, keep them as far away from your patio, porch, or pool as possible. That way, when the pests attract wasps, they won’t be near the areas you want to enjoy.

12. Avoid hitting wasps

If you see a wasp, you’re probably tempted to hit it. You may find out that killing is the best choice. The trick is that killing wasps can actually be a bad idea because it may attract more to your yard.

Wasps release pheromones when they are dying or dying, especially when attacked. It warns other wasps of a threat, which in this case is you. Sometimes these pheromones attract more wasps. They rush in and try to defend a nearby nest.

If you want to keep wasps away, don’t risk killing them near your deck, porch, or pool. Resist the urge to hit and instead use other methods like wasp traps and deterrent sprays.

13. Close holes

Wasps typically explore properties in search of safe spots, especially when trying to nest in the spring or hiding for the winter. In some cases, these insects can find a home in a gap in your home, patio, or porch. Holes in your garden can also be inviting for ground wasps.

If you want to keep wasps away, make sure they don’t land on your property next. Check your house, porch, deck, pool area and yard and fill in any holes you find. This includes cracks or crevices near the ground, as not all wasps need high areas to feel safe.

14. Move trash cans

Trash, recycling, and compost heaps can be food sources for wasps. If you leave your cans near your deck, porch, or pool, there’s a good chance you’ll see pests looking for a snack. By removing your trash cans and compost from the parts of your yard you intend to use, you reduce your wasp encounters.

Also, if your trash can’s lid isn’t tight, wasps can easily squeeze in for a meal. The same goes for recycling bins, especially if there are bins that used to hold sugary foods or beverages, like soda cans or bottles. Make sure your lids are as tight as possible.

15 Get professional treatments

Sometimes the best choice is to hire a pest control specialist. This is especially true if you have a large, active nest on your property.

While there are DIY approaches to getting rid of wasp nests, this is always dangerous. It doesn’t matter if it’s day or night or what method you use. Once the wasps are excited, they can attack.

Pest control specialists have the right equipment and treatment options for a wide variety of wasps. You can handle the nest properly while staying at a safe distance.

In addition, pest control professionals can apply preventive treatments. Once in place, wasps are less likely to return.

Conclusion

Ultimately, keeping wasps off your deck, porch, or pool doesn’t have to be a challenge. With the above tips, you should be able to deal with it easily.

I hope you enjoyed the list above. If you would like to share your thoughts, including more tips to keep wasps away, please head to the comments section below. Also, pass this list on to anyone who wants to enjoy a wasp-free garden; You will be happy about it.

There are over 200 bee species in the UK, including 25 bumblebee species! We have listed some of the most common ones here. Different bee species may require different treatment methods. Note: Pest controllers do not apply bee treatments unless there is a serious threat to human life. 25% of all bee species are endangered.

Some of the bees you are likely to see in the UK:

Honey Bee Red Mason Bee Early Bumblebee Red Tailed Bumblebee Tree Bumblebee Ivy Bee Yellow Mine Bee White Tailed Bumblebee Lesser Garden Bumblebee Common Carder Bee Leafcutter Bee

bumblebees

They are not easily confused with other bees. Rounder, larger, and furrier, they have different colored stripes at the end of their tails. Nest sites are usually underground in abandoned burrows, bird boxes, under the patio, or in the compost bin.

Bumblebees are social insects: they live in a colony with a queen and her offspring (the workers). Bumblebees have an annual life cycle, with new nests being made by queens each spring. Queen bumblebees are very large and from February they can be seen feeding on flowers such as pussy willow, bluebells and lungwort, or flying low over the ground in search of a nesting site.

Some species prefer to nest underground in abandoned rodent burrows, while others nest just above the ground in dense grass or foliage. The queen fills her nest with pollen and nectar and lays her first eggs. She hatches them like a bird, perching on the eggs and quivering her flight muscles to generate heat.

When the eggs hatch, the legless larvae consume pollen and nectar, grow rapidly, and pupate after a few weeks. A few days later, the first workers emerge from their pupae and begin helping their queen expand the nest and gather food. In midsummer, the nests of some species may contain several hundred workers. At this point, the queen begins to lay both male and female eggs.

The females are fed extra food and become future queens. Both males and new queens leave the nest to mate, and the new queens burrow into the ground to wait until the next spring. The males, workers and old queen die off in the fall, leaving the nest to decay.

tree bees

A new addition to the British fauna. Their banding is unique among British species. The thorax is tawny to reddish brown, the belly is black, and the tail is white. Fresh drones have a patch of yellowish facial fur, but this fades over time. Queens vary in size, and workers are usually quite small.

Some characteristics of tree bees can be a cause for concern, but there is nothing to worry about. Commonly constructing a nest in birdhouses or parts of buildings, they may be a cause for concern by apparent high nest flight activity due to ‘nest surveillance’ by drones and the sound of bee chatter/activity heard through the ceiling as signs of activity.

Solitary bees/mason bees

As the name suggests, they are solitary and you will rarely find them in large numbers. They have a reddish-brown bottom and black body. You will see these little bees jumping in and out of the wall or very small holes in the floor.

They nest in a variety of cavities and have the ability to build nests by tunneling through soft brick mortar or by taking advantage of pre-existing gaps that are not repaired. They do not pose a problem for your property from a structural point of view.

honey bees

Vendors of honey and regarded with affection almost everywhere in Britain. They rarely pose problems as pests, but feral swarms can settle in undesirable places such as chimneys and wall cavities. Honey bees are small and vary in color from golden brown to almost black.

The most common scenario to worry about is when they are crushing. Typically, these intimidating swarms will first set up a temporary camp somewhere nearby, e.g. B. on a branch, fence posts and even cars. In almost all cases, the swarm will take off within a day or two to occupy a most suitable permanent home elsewhere.

life cycle

How to get rid of bees

Contrary to popular belief, bees are not protected and can be treated, however they are endangered so we always recommend exploring all other options before considering eradication. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you:

Leave her alone

Bees will not cause any trouble on your property, nor will you run the risk of being stung if left alone and without provocation. After the summer season, most bees will go away and not return to the nest site the following year. By the time a colony has become apparent, its activity will naturally decrease. In general, colonies formed in spring usually form by the end of July, if not earlier. As such, bee nests should always thrive on their own whenever possible, as their presence is actually beneficial to gardeners and their crops.

laying

If a nest is outdoors or underground, there should be no reason to actually move it. In more conventional and accessible locations like bushes, trees, and sheds, an option is to contact a local beekeeper or pest controller to move the nest. If you suspect you have honey bees and they are causing you problems, we recommend hiring a swarm collector from the British Bee Keepers Association or contacting the Tree Bee Society. In most cases, they will come and pick up the swarm for free. Some pest control companies have the ability to remove nests from difficult spots like chimneys and voids. You can find them through our Find a Pest Control tool.

Only when the location of a nest is dangerous and removal is not possible should the next step be an option.

extermination

The decision to treat depends on whether it is possible to close the entrance(s) to the nest after treatment. If this is the case, make sure you consult a trained professional. We strongly recommend that you contact a professional pest control company, preferably a member of the BPCA. A trained professional has the technical knowledge and access to a range of insecticides for professional use that are not available to the general public.

Post-treatment requirements vary by bee species. For bumblebees and tree bees, blocking access points prevents non-target bees from entering and becoming contaminated, and reduces the likelihood of other bees entering the same area in the future.

For solitary bees/mason bees, re-enactment with healthy mortar is the only solution in the long run. However, this needs to be thorough as bees searching for a nest site will quickly find areas that have been missed.

It is essential for honey bees that entry points or points are blocked off and, if possible, all combs are removed. Otherwise, predatory bees will find the infected honey and bring it back to their hive, thereby contaminating it.

PLEASE NOTE: For ethical reasons, not all pest control companies treat bees, so you may need to contact multiple companies.

Why doesn’t a pest controller treat bees?

For more information about bees, see our Leaving you bee brochure.

The Health and Safety Executive’s Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme describes bees as “beneficial invertebrates” and should be protected where possible.

As part of a responsible pest control industry, we are committed to educating customers on the benefits of bees as pollinators, their behavior and lifecycle – before they take any deadly action.

After talking to you, we agreed that the risk of being bitten is low. Please contact us if you think the threat has changed.

The species of bees around your property are very important and useful. They don’t typically exhibit aggressive behavior toward humans, so letting them go about their seasonal cycle will benefit the ecosystem around your home or premises.

What to do when bees are active

keep your distance

The bees are more active on warm days – this is completely normal, so don’t panic.

Enjoy them – bees are fascinating, watch them at work

a safe distance

If you have children, it’s always a good idea to educate them about the benefits of bees.

Can I stop bees from nesting?

There’s not much that can be done to prevent it completely

Deter bees from settling in or around your property

In the middle of spring, keep an eye out for bee activities like nest building – early detection of bees can help

Moving much easier

Alternatively, just leave them alone! You will of course go towards the end of summer – try to enjoy your bees!

If you have further concerns

Because protecting bees is vital, bee nests can sometimes be relocated depending on the situation – but the costs involved can be high. Consult your pest controller for advice.

You can also contact some specialized bee removal organizations for advice:

British Beekeepers Association

British Bee Removers Association

Problems with bees?

Look for one of our members doing specialized bee removal work.

Find a pest controller

Source: A-Z

The guide to get rid of ground bees

When they think of bees, many homeowners picture hives with bees buzzing through the air. While ground bees can fly in Maryland, not all bees live in hives like honey bees.

In fact, a staggering 70% of bee species in the US nest underground.

When it comes to ground bees in Maryland, you might be surprised to come across a nest in your yard. Homeowners are calling Brody Brothers Pest Control asking how to get rid of ground bees and we have some advice on the matter.

What are ground bees?

Also known as mining bees and digger bees, they burrow into the ground to nest. Unlike honey bees, ground bees are solitary and do not live in colonies. One exception, however, is the bumblebee – it is one of the few types of ground bee that live in colonies. They often nest in large holes already made by a small animal.

Female ground bees go underground to lay their eggs in tunnels in the ground. You can easily identify a ground bee nest. It’s a small pile of dirt with a big hole in the middle. This is where the female tunnels go in to lay eggs.

These eggs hatch underground and spend the winter underground. In the summer they come out again and the females start digging tunnels again to lay eggs.

What do ground bees look like?

Ground bees come in a variety of sizes and shades of color. The largest species is about the size of a honey bee. The large variant is furry and darker than a honey bee. You may also see ground bees that are metallic green or have bright stripes.

Know that the term ground bee is not coined to refer to a single species of bee. Any bee variant that burrows underground can be considered a ground bee.

The good things about ground bees

While you may want to get rid of ground bees, know that they do have some positive elements.

Do ground bees sting?

First, unlike social bees and wasps, they are not aggressive. Ground bees generally won’t bother you unless you bother them. Females have spikes, but will only sting you if they feel threatened.

You will often see male ground bees hovering around the underground nests. The males are not equipped to sting or injure you. The worst thing they will do to you is chase you away.

Soil bees help gardens grow

Finally, ground bees are pollinators. Pollinators are an incredibly important part of the ecosystem here in Maryland.

However, it’s understandable if you don’t want ground bees living underground in your garden. Maybe you have small children around or you have a bee allergy. Regardless of your reason, there are ways to get rid of ground bees.

Should I kill ground bees?

The first point to understand is that it is not necessary to kill ground bees. These are generally docile bees compared to honey bees. Killing them can pose a threat to the ecosystem over time.

Instead of killing ground bees, you can call Brody Brother Pest Control to remove the nests. You can also try some of the following advice with caution.

How to get rid of ground bees

We strongly advise against using any kind of chemicals to get rid of ground bees. This attempt can backfire and potentially harm pets or children.

Safer methods of removing ground bees include:

How to get rid of ground bees This will prevent the bees from tunneling back inside to lay eggs. Once the bees realize they cannot return to their nest, they will likely disappear and find a new place to burrow.

To block the underground nests, you can place objects such as bricks on top of the holes.

If you are allergic to bees, please do not try this yourself. This option may put you in close proximity to the bees, which may result in stings. Wet soil Soil bees build their nests in dry soil. Watering your lawn may be enough to send the bees elsewhere. You may need to attempt watering multiple times for this method to be effective. Consider using a sprinkler so you don’t have to come into close contact with the holes. Sprinkle Cinnamon Bees may love sugary candy, but not so much cinnamon. This spice is a bee deterrent and can help you get rid of ground bees when you are in need.

The idea is to sprinkle cinnamon on the nest’s holes. You must do this every day for at least a week for it to take effect. Use Vinegar Spray Mixing a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar can help get rid of ground bees. 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water can serve as a solution in the spray bottle.

This can help repel the bees, in addition to treating pinworms and fungus gnats.

A word of caution to get rid of ground bees

If you decide to use any of these 4 methods, there are a few precautions you need to take before proceeding.

Repelling the bees is a much safer approach than trying to eradicate them yourself.

The use of chemicals and pesticides is not advisable. It is harmful to children, pets and the soil.

Since the above DIY methods can ultimately annoy the bees, try these suggestions at night when the bees are sleeping. Remember that the female can sting if provoked. Males won’t sting you, but they can swarm out and chase you.

Do not attempt these approaches if you have a bee allergy. The female will sting, and it can cause a severe allergic reaction.

When should you hire a professional for soil bee removal?

Removing ground bees in Maryland is not always an easy approach. Using one or a combination of the natural remedies may or may not be effective. Even more worrying is that you could get stung in the process, which could lead to an allergic reaction.

By working with Brody Brothers Pest Control, you can ensure safe and effective ground bee removal. This will keep your garden free of bees while preventing a possible allergic reaction. It will also help you avoid harsh chemicals to kill the bees.

If you have a concern about soil bees among your soil bees in your Maryland home, contact us today to learn more about professional removal.

“I found a bumblebee’s nest!”

Read our bumblebee nest FAQs…

We receive hundreds of inquiries about bumblebee nests each year, so in addition to our main bumblebee nest webpage, we have created this FAQ list to answer our most common nesting queries. We’ve also created this guide to bumblebee nests and what you need to know to help people understand what to do when they find a nest.

What are these bumblebees?

You can try to identify the bumblebees in your nest with our identification guide. If you manage to take photos, you can also have them checked by an expert. Take a look at the options. For instructions on how to take a good photo for identification purposes, click here.

How can I help a bumblebee nest?

You can help a colony of bumblebees that nests near you by providing them with plenty of bee-friendly flowers throughout their life cycle. We have this advice on our Gardening for Bees page, in our free Bee the Change resources (including a wide range of planting guides) and finally in our BeeKind tool to help you evaluate your current garden and get plant recommendations.

I damaged a bumblebee nest on the ground, what can I do?

Depending on the level of damage, the bumblebees aim to repair damaged parts of the nest. It’s best to leave the spot alone and see if the bumblebees can fix it. If necessary, place an inverted flowerpot over the nest to give them some shelter.

How long do bumblebee nests live?

Usually nests live about 2 or 3 months. After that time, the original queen, her workers, and her sons will die. If the nest has been successful in raising new queens, they leave the nest to mate and then hibernate somewhere in the ground – ready to emerge the following spring to start their own colonies.

Will the bees damage my house?

Bumblebees do not cause structural damage (i.e. they do not chew through wood or drill holes). They use material already available to build their nests, some such as buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) use old mouse nests, while tree bumblebees (B. hypnorum) have been known to build nests in fiberglass roof insulation or in used birds build boxes. Bumblebees also don’t produce or store honey – so you won’t be leaking honey through your ceiling or walls.

There are a lot of bees swarming in front of the nest, what should I do?

Bumblebees don’t swarm. Some species such as tree bumblebees (Bombus hypnorum) have distinct mating behaviors, with male bumblebees seeking a nest from anywhere and flying around outside. They dance around hoping that when she leaves the nest they will get a chance to mate with a new queen. It’s a bit like the equivalent of a bumblebee nightclub! On a hot day there can be well over 50 male tree bees dancing in front of a nest which can look a little intimidating, however male bumblebees cannot sting and there is no need to worry. This usually means that the colony is nearing the end of its life cycle and that it has successfully raised new queens who will mother the next generation the following spring.

If you see a swarm of honey bees, you need to contact the swarm collector at your local beekeepers association. Honey bee swarms consist of hundreds (sometimes thousands) of honey bees, usually huddled on a tree or other surface.

There are many bumblebees in front of my window and I can’t open it without them coming in, what can I do?

These are likely tree bumblebee males (see question above or click here to read more). If you find bumblebees in your home, it’s always best to carefully catch them and release them back outside. If there is a nest just above or outside your window, you can cover the opening with netting to prevent bees from entering once you have it open.

I have a nest in my yard and I’m worried about my pets or children?

Bumblebees are not aggressive insects and are generally only interested in finding flowers. The only time they can act defensively is when something is disturbing their nest, so it may be a good idea to put up some sort of barrier a few feet from where they nest to keep pets or small ones away Children do not disturb the nest. A bumblebee nest in your yard can be a great opportunity to teach children about these vital pollinators. We have many resources available to help.

Can someone move the nest for me?

Please note: We do not move bumblebee nests. In general, we do not recommend moving nests unless absolutely necessary. Most bumblebee colonies do not survive after being translocated, so allowing them to complete their short life cycles is always better than moving their nest. If the entrance to a nest is in an awkward place – e.g. next to a door, you can try to redirect the exit – please read our advice on this here.

How far should a nest be moved?

In general, we advise moving a nest either a few meters or to a noticeably different location to allow the bees to reorient themselves when exiting the nest after the move. Bumblebees generally forage no more than 1 km from the nest, so going further than 1 km has the same effect. One thing that can be useful when moving the bees a short distance is an obvious landmark. For example, place a large plant in a pot outside the nest a few days before moving, and then move the plant pot to the new nest site before releasing it.

*Note – We often find that male tree bumblebees do not always realize that a nest has moved and will continue to compete for space outside the old nest – however, they will eventually disperse after a few days.

There are bumblebees nesting somewhere in my cavity wall, what should I do?

These are probably tree bumblebees, to learn more about them and their nests click here. Cavity wall nests are extremely difficult to locate, so it’s best to let them finish their lives, which will only last a few months. In the fall, after you stop noticing bees coming and going from the entrance, you can close up any holes they used. It is important not to do this while the nest is alive, otherwise the bees will be trapped or use another exit which could result in them getting inside. If the bees have used an air vent, it is important not to block it. You can position a net over the vent after the nest has died to prevent future queens from starting their colonies in the same spot.

Swarms of honey bees

“If you see a swarm of honey bees, call a beekeeper, not an exterminator!” Few things will draw attention as quickly as the hum of thousands of bees clustering on a branch and flying all over the yard. It can also be very unsettling as they are stinging insects that will fight back if disturbed. Though a swarm of bees in the garden may be unnerving, it is fascinating and one of nature’s most dazzling displays of coordinated behavior.

What is a honey bee swarm?

Swarming is the process by which honey bee colonies reproduce to form new colonies. When a honeybee colony outgrows its home, is too crowded, or too populated for the queen’s pheromones to control the entire workforce, the worker bees signal that it’s time to swarm. The workers begin building swarm cells for new queens. Once the swarm cells are established and the queen lays eggs inside, the colony changes its behavior. Foraging slows down and workers begin erratic movements within the hive. The queen now stops laying eggs and reduces her weight to be able to fly. When the queen is ready, she leaves the hive and is followed by about half the worker bees in a huge cloud of flying bees. The queen will find a nearby tree, land, and emit pheromones that signal workers to crowd around her. The cluster will stay there for several hours while scout bees scout the area for a new home. Often the cluster leaves, travels a mile or more, and reforms on another branch far from the original hive. The cluster persists until scout bees find a new hive or burrow to occupy. Once a suitable home is found, the entire cluster will fly and migrate to the new location, where it will begin building comb, developing new brood, and collecting pollen and nectar.

The queens that develop in the swarm cells of the old hive are cared for by half of the workers who did not go with the swarm. After 16 days, the new queens begin to hatch. Typically, the first queen to emerge stabs and kills the other queens in their cells to take on the role of new queen for the colony. She will then fly to find drones to mate with to begin laying eggs and rebuilding the colony’s workforce.

When do swarms appear?

Normally, swarm activity coincides with spring nectar flow. This is when a variety of plants are in bloom, providing abundant nectar and pollen resources. The primary swarm season is between March and May, but secondary swarms occasionally occur later in the season. These secondary swarms are often not as successful in establishing new colonies due to their inability to build new combs and gather enough resources in time to survive the coming winter.

Are swarms dangerous?

When honey bees are swarming, they are not nearly as defensive as when they are near their hive because they are not protecting either brood (developing young bees) or honey stores. They are more concerned with looking for a new home and staying in protective groups around the queen. When disturbed or agitated, they will defend the group; It is therefore advisable to keep your distance from a swarm of bees to avoid being stung.

The swarm was there all day. How long will it take for them to leave?

That’s hard to answer because it depends on the weather conditions and when the scout bees find a suitable cavity to colonize. Usually swarms only stay in one place for a few hours or maybe a day, but some swarms can stay for several days.

The swarm is in a problematic location (near a public sidewalk, door, playground or schoolyard, public park, etc.). How can it be safely removed?

Although the swarm can be alarming, especially for people who are allergic to bee stings, please do not spray the swarm with any insecticide or try to destroy it. This can actually upset the bees and make them more likely to get stung. More importantly, honey bees face many threats and have suffered significant declines in recent years. A number of pests, diseases and environmental stresses have caused significant losses to beekeepers; Therefore, swarms of bees should be protected rather than destroyed. South Carolina beekeepers are found throughout the state, and many endeavor to collect swarms to start new colonies, increasing the swarm’s chances of survival. The easiest way to find a swarm collector is to contact a local beekeeping association. A list of local beekeeping associations and their contact information can be found at https://scstatebeekeepers.com/about/local-associations/.

Is it illegal to destroy a honey bee swarm?

It is not illegal to destroy a honey bee swarm, but it is not advisable. Attempting to destroy a swarm can be dangerous, especially without the proper protective gear. More importantly, honey bees are beneficial pollinators that support agriculture and native plant communities. They can also provide income for beekeepers; Therefore, contacting your nearest local beekeeping association to let them know about the swarm should be the first step in removing the swarm.

The bees have moved into a building. Well what can be done?

Once bees have moved into a chimney, pillar, or wall area in a building, they stop swarming and stay to start a new colony. They build wax combs, lay eggs, and store honey and pollen. By sealing the entrance or killing the colony, the bees and their hive material will die and rot in the cavity, attracting rodents and pests. The colony and its supplies must be removed before the entrance is sealed. This may require some deconstruction which may be beyond the beekeeper’s skills. A few beekeepers across the state are capable of this type of work. Some beekeepers can deconstruct and remove the colony, but repairs require the skills of a licensed contractor who can clean and restore the damaged structure.

Beekeeping is growing in South Carolina, and many new beekeepers live in and around the state’s developing areas. This means South Carolina residents are more likely to witness a crush than ever before. This should be encouraging rather than alarming as it is a sign that the beekeeping trade is buoyant in South Carolina and that beekeepers are meeting the many challenges they face. The Clemson Beekeeping and Pollinators Program appreciates public support for beekeepers by protecting swarms wherever they are encountered. For more information on honey bees and pollinator conservation, visit the Clemson Apiculture and Pollinator website at https://www.clemson.edu/extension/pollinators/index.html.

Originally published on 03/20

The non-native European honey bee is the state insect of:

Arkansas

Georgia

Kansas

Louisiana

Maine

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

New Jersey

North Carolina

Oklahoma

South Dakota

Tennessee

Utah

Vermont

West Virginia

Wisconsin

No native bee is a state insect. The closest relative of a North American native bee on the list is the Tarantula Hawk Wasp, New Mexico’s state insect.

Minnesota now has a state bee as well as a state insect. Bombus affinis, the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee, was so honored. Good job Minnesota!

Connecticut’s state insect is the European praying mantis. Although they are useful insects, they are not native to North America.

Can you hear the “buzz” in town? Spring is here and the bees are back! The bees are just as excited about the warmer weather as you are, but you may be less excited when you see them buzzing around you and your property. Although bees are an intricate part of the ecosystem, certain species can actually cause harm to your home if not treated properly.

Bumblebee or carpenter bee: which bee do I have?

Bumblebees and carpenter bees can often be confused with one another, but there is a significant difference in their appearance that allows you to tell the two bees apart.

– Bumblebees have a hairy abdomen that may have some yellow markings.

– Carpenter bees have a bare glossy black abdomen.

In addition to their different looks, carpenter bees have a very distinctive flight pattern. You can see carpenter bees scurrying and diving, as well as “chasing” each other. Carpenter bees are also primarily solitary bees, while bumble bees are social bees that nest together.

Do carpenter bees sting?

Unlike bumblebees, which are social bees that sting to protect their nest, carpenter bees are solitary. Because they are mostly solitary bees, the female carpenter bees will only sting if seriously provoked.

The entomologist Dr. Richard Cooper said he’s never heard of an incident where a person has been stung by a carpenter bee, but it’s possible.

“Male carpenter bees don’t have stingers,” he said. “Female carpenter bees do have one, but they need to be provoked very seriously.”

dr Cooper went on to describe why bumblebees sting easily compared to carpenter bees.

“Bumblebees will defend their nest very aggressively,” he said. “Bumblebees are social bees, so all of their sisters are genetic clones of each other. If a bumblebee would die from stinging someone, the bee is an infertile female, so the bee’s reproduction will not be affected. However, if a female carpenter bee stings, her reproduction is at risk. At this point, her life and reproductive cycle is complete, so the female carpenter bee will not put herself at risk for it. The bumblebees will readily defend themselves and sting because they have nothing to lose.”

Nesting habits of carpenter bees

Because carpenter bees are solitary bees, their nesting habits are very different from bumblebees. Bumblebees usually nest in the ground, but carpenter bees build tunnels in wood to lay their eggs. If you notice a number of large bees flying around the eaves of your house, you probably have carpenter bees.

What type of wood do carpenter bees prefer?

When a female carpenter bee wants to nest, she usually prefers bare, unpainted, or weathered softwoods.

Types of wood include:

– Redwood

– cedar

– Cypress

– Jaw

Pressure-treated or painted wood is less prone to nesting by carpenter bees. Although they prefer bare wood, don’t be surprised if you find them nesting on your wood-stained deck, as the stain isn’t as much of a deterrent as paint. The wood stains are less reliable than paint but could offer some level of repellency unlike bare wood.

Common areas for carpenter bee nesting

– eaves

– Window covering

– Fascia Boards

– siding

– Wooden shakes/shingles

– Decks

– Garden furniture

– Playgrounds

Carpenter Bee drilling

During the spring months (April and May), carpenter bees re-emerge from their hiding places in abandoned nests to mate over the winter. After mating, fertilized females dig tunnels in wood to lay their eggs (about 6-8 eggs) in a series of small holes. You’ll notice that the holes are perfectly round, about the diameter of a finger. Female carpenter bees build a nest hole. So if you notice multiple holes on your property, it means you have multiple bee nests. It’s a one-to-one relation between bees and nests.

Phil Cooper, CEO of Cooper Pest Solutions, stated that the beauty and nature behind carpenter bee drilling is incredible.

“It’s impossible to believe that an insect could create such a perfectly round hole,” he said. “It’s really remarkable when you sit back and think about it. It’s so beautiful, but it’s often overlooked with the negativity of being boring.”

Since most of the damage caused by carpenter bees is purely aesthetic, Phil explained that if the discoloration from drilling isn’t bothersome, then the bees should be left alone.

“Carpenter bees just hurt a home’s aesthetics,” he said. “They often have a bad reputation for drilling, but they don’t cause any structural damage to a home. If you don’t mind the stains they leave, just let them get on with what they do.”

Females sometimes return to the same nest sites year after year, creating new tunnels for egg laying. If this is the case, the aesthetic damage can increase from one year to the next unless you decide to undergo treatment.

Although female carpenter bees may only cause aesthetic damage to your property by nesting, you may also notice increased woodpecker activity in the same area as the nest. This happens because woodpeckers find carpenter bee eggs to be quite a delicacy. Unfortunately, this can cause additional aesthetic damage to the fascia of your home or property as woodpeckers peck at the wood to get to the bee larvae nesting inside.

nesting behavior of bumblebees

Unlike carpenter bees, bumblebees are social bees and live in colonies, mostly underground. Each spring, a queen that has survived the hibernation hatches and searches for a suitable nesting site to start a colony of her own.

As the summer progresses, colonies will continue to expand, and unlike carpenter bees, bumble bees will attack to defend their nest. Male carpenter bees do not sting, and females rarely sting unless provoked. Bumblebees, on the other hand, can be considered a health concern as they sting to defend their nest.

Where do bumblebees nest?

Bumblebee nests are not typically found in structures like carpenter bees. Bumblebee nests can sometimes be found in abandoned rodent burrows, under grass or leaf clippings, rocks or logs. Occasionally you may notice bumblebees nesting above ground, e.g. B. in a wall, in a firewood pile, shed, crawl space or even in the attic, but this is very rare.

“Occasionally, like wasps, bumblebees nest in a wall gap, but more often than not, bumblebees nest under slabs, in the ground, and between railroad ties,” said Dr. Cooper.

According to Phil Cooper, of the 40,000 regular services performed at Cooper Pest Solutions each year, only a handful of services are dedicated to bumblebee nesting.

“We only get maybe three bumblebees a year,” he said, “they’re not common, and if the bees don’t disturb your daily routine then they should be left alone.”

Cooper explained that if they nest near an entry point to your home and are very aggressive in defending their nest, a professional pest control contractor should be called.

Bumblebee nests are not to be confused with wasp nests. Although both bees are ground nesters, they are very different. If you notice bee activity in the spring, then you have bumblebees. Yellow jackets typically do not appear until July, while bumble bees emerge in the spring months.

While bumblebees may not cause the aesthetic damage to property that carpenter bees do, they can become a major health concern for individuals with bee sting allergies, particularly if the bumblebee nests are near a property entrance or near a recreation area.

Treatment and prevention of carpenter bees

As a homeowner, the best way to prevent carpenter bees from nesting is to paint all exposed wood surfaces. Wood stains are not as reliable as paint but still offer a degree of repellency unlike bare wood.

Another way to prevent carpenter bees from nesting is to keep all garages and outbuildings closed during the carpenter bee mating season when they are looking for a nesting site. If you decide to use a DIY method to get rid of your carpenter bees, do your treatment at night as bees are less active during nighttime hours.

Damage to the hull: what to do?

When carpenter bees nest, they usually nest behind fascia boards along a roofline on a house. When woodpeckers hunt for the carpenter’s eggs, they can leave damage along the fascia boards as they peck at the eggs.

If you want to prevent this damage, follow these tips as detailed by Cooper:

– If you want to replace the wood siding boards, don’t just put up new wood. Carpenter bees will only re-infest the new wood and give you the same problems.

– If you want to prevent their return, wrap all THREE sides of the panel in aluminum or vinyl siding. Don’t just wrap the two exposed sides as the bees will nest on the underside of the board. Be sure to wrap the front, bottom, and back of the bezel to prevent carpenter bees from nesting. Carpenter bees CANNOT drill through aluminum or vinyl so future nesting will be prevented if all sides are properly wrapped.

Professional treatment for carpenter bees

Carpenter bees can cause aesthetic damage to property if left untreated year after year, so it’s best to choose a professional to treat your carpenter bee problem if you haven’t already wrapped the damaged wood. There are a number of ways a pest expert can treat carpenter bees, but some common methods include:

– Residual liquid treatment

If you currently have carpenter bees, your pest exterminator will spray the liquid treatment in areas where carpenter bees are boring into wood.

If you want to prevent carpenter bees, these treatments are applied in March and early April before nesting begins.

– Treatment of dust products

Your technician can use a dusting product in the current carpenter bee holes on your property as a remedial and/or preventive treatment.

As a remedy, dusting usually only works on active carpenter bees, not eggs, as the walls protect them in the tunnels.

– Plug carpenter bee holes

Your pest controller may also use a cork, putty, or caulk to seal the holes to keep the bees from returning to the tunnels to nest later. This usually occurs in July or the summer months, once all the active bees have left the nest and before the wintering bees return.

According to Dave Burgess, vice president of operations at Cooper Pest Solutions, carpenter bee prevention is very much a matter of timing.

“We schedule our services to be done just before nesting begins, usually in the Northeast, so around April 10, more or less a week,” he said. “Sometimes the weather delays or speeds up our appointment, we monitor the weather closely at this time of year and adjust our service appointments accordingly.”

Obtaining effective preventive services from carpenter bees can be difficult, but Cooper Pest Solutions’ carpenter bee prevention services are effective for a number of reasons.

“We use non-repellent products because we don’t want the bees to avoid the areas we treat,” Burgess said. “We believe it’s best to be close to the activity so we can apply the products exactly where the bees are likely to come into contact with the pesticide. Often the bees will nest along rooflines so where possible we use extension ladders or telescoping equipment to treat these areas. Finally, knowing where the bees are likely to nest will help guide our treatments. Knowing the bees like wood and preferring to chew in a safe area, coupled with the experience from thousands of jobs under our belt, this helps us to quickly pinpoint where the bees are, or likely to be, and those areas to treat.”

dr Cooper also pointed out the importance of timing when it comes to plugging carpenter bee holes.

“I would not recommend sealing holes at the time of treatment,” he said. “Covering holes at the time of treatment may not be effective as the active bees can still chew their way out. The best time of year to seal the holes is in the middle of summer because all the active bees are out of the nest and the wintering bees have not yet returned to the empty tunnels.”

How to prevent carpenter bees

After your carpenter bee problem has been taken care of by a professional, there are a few things you can do to prevent carpenter bee infestations from reoccurring.

Do-it-yourself items

– Paint all your unfinished wood on your property, outbuildings and furniture. Freshly painted wood is even less attractive to a carpenter bee.

– Seal all external openings, cracks and crevices with caulk.

– Carpenter bees will revisit holes from previous seasons, so seal these openings during the fall months to prevent a spring infestation.

– Be sure to wrap all THREE SIDES of the fascia boards with vinyl or aluminum to prevent carpenter bees from nesting in the fascia boards.

Burgess added that whether you’re painting or wrapping the fascia boards, it’s crucial that all sides are painted or foiled.

“Painting helps, but on the bezel there’s the same problem of painting as there is of packaging the side panel,” he said. “The bees attack the wood from behind, so if you just brush the front of the bezel you won’t repel the activity. You really need to take the fascia off and paint both sides for this approach to be effective.”

Prevention by a pest controller

In early March, have your professional pest control contractor treat the areas where carpenter bees have been present. Thorough treatment will discourage carpenter bees from making more holes. This treatment usually needs to be done annually as carpenter bees return to areas that have been damaged in the past. Don’t wait for carpenter bees to reappear as it will be too late to prevent them and you’ll get back into a reactive cycle.

bumblebee control

A bumblebee nest near your home or children’s playground can pose a major health risk, especially if family members are allergic. Getting rid of the nest can be important to avoid future health risks. The safest way to remove a bumblebee nest is to have it taken care of by a trained professional. They have the right tools, safety equipment, and treatment protocols in place to safely and effectively remove the bees from your home or property.

While there are no exact ways to prevent bumblebees, Dr. Cooper that there are some recommendations homeowners could do.

Recommendations for the prevention of bumblebee nest

– To prevent possible nesting of bees, fill in holes for animals and rodents. These are the best places for bees to build a nest. By filling these out, you can remove the potential nest location.

– Seal any holes along the outside of your home or building. Make sure all vents have tight-fitting screens with no access points.

dr Cooper said, “These measures will not only help prevent bumble bee nesting, they will also help with many other pests.”

It is important to remember that bees play an important and beneficial role in the environment by pollinating flowers and many species of plants.

Whether you currently have a carpenter bee or bumble bee problem on your NJ or PA property, call Cooper Pest Solutions at 1-800-949-2667. Our experienced technicians have the knowledge and tools to provide you with safe and effective bee removal. If you want to prevent a future infestation, Cooper Pest Solutions offers preventive services that will prevent future bee infestations. Our effective treatments are environmentally conscious and our service is guaranteed! Call Cooper Pest Solutions today!

Carpenter Bee services can now be scheduled online to enable rapid technician deployment on the date of your choice. No inspection required.

Mid-March to late spring is known as the swarming season in the United States. During this season, bees reproduce and split off from their original colony to form a new colony and find a new home. Don’t want to become neighbors with a new hive? Here are some tips and tricks on how to keep bees away from your home.

Why do bees come to visit?

During “swarming season” bee populations begin to multiply. Because of this growth in the colony, they branch out to start new colonies. These swarms of bees are converging – their new queen resting nearby while scout bees scan the area for an ideal nesting site.

Bees looking for a new home are attracted to areas that smell like honey. If there have ever been hives in your area or they have not been properly removed, these sleeping hives can act as beacons for bees. If your home is in their preferred climate or a good food source is nearby, their ingenuity will target your area.

Understand how bees get into your home

When you see a bee flying around your home, the first thing you usually think is that it entered through an open window or door. If bees visit the inside of your home too often, they may have found a way to get inside. Here are the most common places a bee may infiltrate your home:

Unmanaged and/or everyday holes

Even large bees can get into a half-inch hole. This means that even the small gaps between panels may not be secure. However, learning to caulk these spots by caulking or patching holes in your window screens should help keep bees and wasps out of your home.

chimneys

If you find bees flying into your skylights or into a room with a fireplace, they could be entering through the chimney. Getting rid of bees in a chimney is dangerous, so we recommend having a professional do a proper bee removal. To determine if there are bees in your chimney, turn off any radios or devices that make noise and sit by the chimney to listen. With no sound, you should hear a buzzing sound.

Kitchen, bathroom or laundry room vents

If you have a duct leading to the vent of your oven or a washing machine to help vent your dryer, chances are those locations have become attractive to a new colony of bees. If a bee is spending time in a room that has an air duct, you can go and listen to the wall that the air duct runs along. Be sure to close these vents to prevent bees from entering your home and call a bee removal service.

attics and gutters

Over time, if not properly cared for, a gutter can cause holes in the sides of your home. Similarly, over time, attics can crack windows or form small holes where plumbing is not present. When these spots are infested, it’s dangerous to see through, so be sure to call an expert to protect yourself from stings.

How to keep bees out of your house

Okay, now that we know how and why they get into our homes, you may be wondering, “How do I keep bees out of my house?” Along with the suggestion to check your house, attic, and siding for holes you fix, here are some more preventive measures you can take to keep bees out of your home.

Avoid flowers and plants that attract bees

You don’t have to get rid of these beautiful flowers entirely, but bringing them near areas they consider good for nesting will only make it more enticing for a swarm. Bees are attracted to flowers like poppies, honeysuckle, clover, and herbs like oregano and thyme. They love colorful plants. So once they are potted, be sure to keep them out of the way when enjoying the great outdoors.

Prevent nesting in the garden

While not in your home, some of your favorite outdoor activities can create perfect spots for bees to invade. A shed or large outdoor grill can be a great size for a beehive, so make sure you cover your grills and properly seal your tree houses and sheds. Storing a minimal amount of outdoor items will help in learning how to repel bees.

Avoid wasps

Wasps are not bees; However, they can often be confused with them. Wasps enjoy human food. So if you find something yellow and black buzzing around your trash can or outdoor gathering, it’s most likely wasps. To prevent wasps, seal food and throw waste in a sealed container as soon as possible.

home remedies

There are many natural repellents that you can use to help with your bee repellent projects. The following is how to make bees disappear without the use of harmful sprays:

peppermint plants

cucumber peels

Potted marigolds

Cinammon

Organic baby powder

Crushed Garlic

Vanilla mixed with baby oil on your skin

Is killing the bees the best form of pest control?

Avoiding bee stings may seem as simple as getting the right insect repellent to kill a bee on the spot. However, you should think twice about killing all the bees due to Colony Collapse Disorder, a phenomenon that is really starting to hurt the agribusiness.

Make a difference by preventing damage to hives and call the Bee Master of Las Vegas. Our staff have years of experience in Las Vegas beehive removal – safety, repair and prevention are our top concerns!

May 04, 2022 • About Carpenter Bees • Best Bee Trap • Preventing Carpenter Bees

Don’t you use pesticides or toxic chemicals to eliminate carpenter bees? Neither do we!

That’s why Best Bee Brothers specializes in natural solutions to get rid of carpenter bees and other pests. Try some of our favorite ways to naturally repel carpenter bees all year round.

Autumn preparation to deter carpenter bees

Seal any wooden divots or pre-existing holes in your wood. Each spring, as female carpenter bees begin their search for a new home, they look for imperfections in the wood as perfect places to build nests. In the fall, use wood putty or our wooden corks, specifically sized for carpenter bee caves, to cover up holes and crevices, making your home less attractive in the spring.

Each spring, as female carpenter bees begin their search for a new home, they look for imperfections in the wood as perfect places to build nests. In the fall, use wood putty or our wooden corks, specifically sized for carpenter bee caves, to cover up holes and crevices, making your home less attractive in the spring. Repair damage to old wooden bee nests. Fall is the best time to prepare for carpenter bees. The adults have died and the young bees and larvae overwinter in the tunnels, making autumn the safest time to target existing nests. Pour almond oil or place a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol in the nest. Then seal the entry hole with steel wool, wooden dowels and a wooden spatula.

Spring – Catch carpenter bees without chemicals!

Place wood bee traps every spring! Even if you don’t have active wood bee nests, the traps are a great deterrent. The traps will attract any carpenter bees that explore the area before they have a chance to nest. This is the BEST way to use your wood bee trap. Each trap has a 15 foot working radius so plan accordingly! Check out our carpenter bee traps and removal products here!

Even if you don’t have active wood bee nests, the traps are a great deterrent. The traps will attract any carpenter bees that explore the area before they have a chance to nest. This is the BEST way to use your wood bee trap. Each trap has a 15 foot working radius so plan accordingly! Check out our carpenter bee traps and removal products here! Now more sustainable than ever. Our carpenter bee traps are now made from recycled ocean plastic to give a more holistic approach to your all-natural approach to carpenter bee removal. To learn more about how Oceanworks and our contractor work together, visit Recycled Ocean Plastic.

Tips for removing natural carpenter bees year-round

Use citrus spray to protect wood. Citrus scents are very repulsive to carpenter bees. You can make your own citrus spray by boiling citrus peels in water for several hours and draining them into a squeeze bottle. Or you can buy a citrus spray from us! Depending on the weather, spray your wood every few days to protect it. This method is great for patio and porch furniture and playsets.

Citrus scents are very repulsive to carpenter bees. You can make your own citrus spray by boiling citrus peels in water for several hours and draining them into a squeeze bottle. Or you can buy a citrus spray from us! Depending on the weather, spray your wood every few days to protect it. This method is great for patio and porch furniture and playsets. Use almond oil to repel. Applied to wood, almond oil has a repellent effect similar to citrus spray. Carpenter bees hate the smell and it will discourage them from nesting on sprayed wood. Some people have also had good luck spraying new nest openings with almond oil to encourage existing carpenter bees to leave. Mix the almond oil with water to spray on wood, or apply the oil directly to the carpenter bee’s nest holes. 1

Applied to wood, almond oil has a repellent effect similar to citrus spray. Carpenter bees hate the smell and it will discourage them from nesting on sprayed wood. Some people have also had good luck spraying new nest openings with almond oil to encourage existing carpenter bees to leave. Mix the almond oil with water to spray on wood, or apply the oil directly to the carpenter bee’s nest holes. Use borate to treat your wood! Apply a borate wood treatment to your finished and unfinished wood. While this solution isn’t technically chemical-free, it’s a great way to protect your wood and keep wood-boring insects of any kind from entering your home. 2

Apply a borate wood treatment to your finished and unfinished wood. While this solution isn’t technically chemical-free, it’s a great way to protect your wood and keep wood-boring insects of any kind from entering your home. Suck away carpenter bees. If you have a strong enough vacuum with a small attachment, you might be able to suck the carpenter bees out of their nest. This works best when the nests are new and not very deep. Vacuuming will not get larvae, so seal the nest properly after removing the adult larvae.

If you have a strong enough vacuum with a small attachment, you might be able to suck the carpenter bees out of their nest. This works best when the nests are new and not very deep. Vacuuming will not get larvae, so seal the nest properly after removing the adult larvae. Play loud music! Some people have found that playing loud music next to active nests causes the carpenter bees to venture out, at least for a short time. This method can work because carpenter bees are sensitive to noise and would be uncomfortable with the vibrations of the music. This gives you a chance to repair a nest before the adults return. After sealing the nest, be sure to set a carpenter bee trap to catch the fleeing adult carpenter bees!

Some people have found that playing loud music next to active nests causes the carpenter bees to venture out, at least for a short time. This method can work because carpenter bees are sensitive to noise and would be uncomfortable with the vibrations of the music. This gives you a chance to repair a nest before the adults return. After sealing the nest, be sure to set a carpenter bee trap to catch the fleeing adult carpenter bees! Beat them with bats! Because carpenter bees are so large, they make excellent targets for badminton and tennis racquets. We even have electric bats to help deliver a punch! This is certainly effective in getting rid of the carpenter bees that get too close. These are usually male, however, so killing them will unfortunately not prevent a nest from growing. Collect all the dead bees and put them in your carpenter bee trap to make the trap more effective. Watch our video to see how it works.

Because carpenter bees are so large, they make excellent targets for badminton and tennis racquets. We even have electric bats to help deliver a punch! This is certainly effective in getting rid of the carpenter bees that get too close. These are usually male, however, so killing them will unfortunately not prevent a nest from growing. Collect all the dead bees and put them in your carpenter bee trap to make the trap more effective. Watch our video to see how it works. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in the nests to kill larvae and bees. Diatomaceous earth is the fossilized remains of diatoms (algae). It consists of microorganisms that destroy the exoskeleton of any pest it touches and has long been used as a natural pest control agent. Wear gloves, a mask, and long sleeves when applying diatomaceous earth to the nest, as contact with bare skin may cause a rash. Remember to seal the nest after treatment.3

Repelling carpenter bees naturally is not difficult if you have the right tools. Preparing your home in the fall and having your carpenter bee trap ready in the spring will ensure adequate protection.

References:

Woopity – I had the same problem. I have a bumblebee on my deck as well as one on my porch that was extremely aggressive.

I was surprised as they usually aren’t. I recently painted my wicker furniture and am wondering if the smell of the paint will attract him. I also swear it’s mating season. I’m willing to smash mine too, but they pollinate my flowers so this is a last resort. Maybe tomorrow I’ll give in trying to drink my coffee…

Click to expand…