HOW to GET RID of CARPENTER BEE

Carpenter bees are similar when it comes to controlling bees; however, in some ways they are different. Carpenter bees will drill a hole into the wood structure and will habit in the hole, whereas, other bees will build a hive. When carpenter bees drill through the wood, the females are the ones that usually do. The hole will be big as the female and she will build a nest in a 90 degree angle. Most of the carpenter bees do not sting, however there are some situations when they will. Male carpenter bees do not have stinger, but the females do and they have a very low dose of venom; so still be extremely cautious when you are approaching them. Be careful when you are trying to control a carpenter bee, because the male bee will confront you when you enter their territory. The carpenter bee looks similar to the bumble bee except that the carpenter bee abdomen is black and shiny instead of yellow. The male carpenter bee will have a yellow face and the female will have a black face and they are about 1″ long. Keep Reading

Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet

Department of Entomology
1991 Kenny Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210

Carpenter Bees

HYG-2074-06
Susan C. Jones
Associate Professor, Entomology; Extension Specialist, Household and Structural Pests

Carpenter bees are so named because they excavate galleries in wood to create nest sites. They do not consume wood. Rather, they feed on pollen and nectar. Carpenter bees are important pollinators of flowers and trees. Carpenter bees typically are just nuisance pests that cause cosmetic rather than structural damage to wood. Nonetheless, considerable wood damage can result from many generations of carpenter bees enlarging existing galleries in wood.

Large carpenter bees belong to the genus Xylocopa. Two native species, Xylocopa virginica and Xylocopa micans, occur in the eastern United States. There also are a number of native carpenter bees in the western United States. This fact sheet primarily pertains to X. virginica, which has the common name of carpenter bee. Keep Reading