When homeowners need bee removal, carpenter bees are among the most common species they need to have removed. Although these bees eat nectar and pollen, their common name comes from the females who bore holes in wood to make nests for their offspring. Here is a brief guide to the bees and what to do if they are in or around your home.

What Carpenter Bees Look Like

Carpenter bees are robust insects about 1 inch long, and they have a shiny, black abdomen with a mostly bare upper surface. White, yellow, or orange hairs cover their thorax, with a head almost as broad as the thorax. Male heads have white or yellow markings, while female heads are completely black. The hind legs of carpenter bees are covered with dense hairs.

To distinguish carpenter bees from bumblebees, look at the head, abdomen, and legs. A bumblebee head is much narrower than the width of its thorax. Bumblebees have yellow markings and hair on their abdomen, and their hind legs have large pollen baskets.

Where You Might Find Them Around the House

Carpenter bees build nests in all kinds of unpainted wood products, including firewood, utility poles, fence posts, and patio furniture. You might find nests in porch ceilings, decks, shutters, fascia boards, roof eaves, and gables. They prefer softwoods that are easy to burrow into, such as cedar, pine, redwood, cypress, and fir.

Signs Indicating Infestation

Signs of carpenter bee infestation include smooth, round holes along the wood grain, leading into a tunnel for the nests. A female bee can excavate a tunnel at the rate of about one inch in 6 days, creating tunnels 4 to 6 inches long. However, over the years, a tunnel can extend to 10 feet since the bees like reusing old nesting areas.

Other infestation signs include coarse sawdust from the bees’ excavations, pollen dislodged under hidden entrance holes, and yellowish to brownish fecal stains or streaks. These signs mean you need to schedule bee removal.

If you notice signs of a carpenter bee infestation, a pest control company can help. Free Bee Pest Control LLC is a family-owned business serving the greater Dayton, OH, area. They are dedicated to effective bee removal methods that are environmentally sound, and their pest control services also include ants, bedbugs, spiders, roaches, and more. For a free estimate, call (937) 242-6170 today and visit the website to learn more about their services.