The thought of exterminating bees these days is excessive. Still, not all bees are created equal, and a large enough population of carpenter bees on your Bay Area property will deal significant damage to the structure of your home. Carpenter bees are solitary creatures, which means they nest individually instead of operating as a hive, so the beginning of an infestation looks relatively harmless. Unfortunately, though, new carpenter bees nest in familiar places and inflict even more damage with every passing year. Reliable Bay Area pest control is always recommended for preventing and getting rid of carpenter bees, but it never hurts to learn how to keep carpenter bees away on your own.
How To Identify Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees are roughly one inch long and black, though some subspecies have yellowish-orange thoraxes. Given their size and general appearance, carpenter bees are often mistaken for bumblebees, but several distinct differences between the two help identify carpenter bees in the Bay Area:
- Bumblebees have alternating black and yellow stripes, while carpenter bees are almost completely black.
- Carpenter bees only have fine hairs on their thoraxes, and bumblebees are fully covered in fuzz.
- Bumblebees fly in a somewhat straight and slow flight pattern; carpenter bees are more erratic and almost aggressive in their flight habits.
- Carpenter bees live within individual carved-out galleries in dead wood, while bumblebees live in primarily underground hives.
Neither species is particularly aggressive, but male carpenter bees will behave aggressively if you get too close to their nests. Male carpenter bees lack stingers, though, so even though they sound and act rather menacingly, you only have to worry about the wrath of females.
Does Anything Instantly Kill Carpenter Bees?
If you've spent any amount of time trying to research ways to get rid of carpenter bees on your own, you've probably noticed a lot of home remedies that claim to be instant fixes. Diatomaceous earth, soapy water, vinegar water, borax solutions, and WD-40 are all common home remedies that are potentially easy solutions. Unfortunately, none of these products and concoctions are instant fixes, and they all require you to get close to the infested wood, which puts you in danger of getting hurt. The only instant remedy for carpenter bees is professional Bay Area pest control from our pest technicians at Bay Pest Solution Inc.
What Damages Can Carpenter Bees Cause In The Bay Area?
Female carpenter bees burrow deep into dead and decaying wood to lay their eggs, which isn't necessarily terrible in the wild. Still, that kind of activity will lead to dangerous living conditions around your property. If left untreated, carpenter bees will cause significant damage to the structure of your home:
- Porch
- Patio deck
- Roof and trim
- Floorboards
- House siding
- Support beams
- Raised foundation
Carpenter bees aren't only dangerous to the structure of your home. Male carpenter bees can't sting, but females can, and carpenter bees will get aggressive if they feel threatened. This is especially hazardous for people with allergies to stinging insects, so to protect your home and loved ones, you need effective pest control for your property.
What Is The Best Treatment For Carpenter Bees?
Stinging insects are dangerous to have nesting around your property, even if they're not inherently aggressive, but trying to get rid of them on your own is just as hazardous as trying to live with them. The best way to get rid of carpenter bees and keep them away is with our experts at Bay Pest Solution Inc. With ongoing pest control care, we use the best pest control products available in all of our treatments, provide affordable bee control plans for any budget, and every treatment is backed with our pest-free guarantee. If you notice pest activity after we treat your property, we come back out and re-treat at no additional cost. So please get in contact with us today to find out how we can help you.