Carpenter bees look similar to bumble bees, with some notable differences. Like bumble bees, many carpenter bees have a furry yellow thorax. However, unlike bumble bees, the abdomen of a carpenter bee is black and shiny, without the distinctive yellow markings or hair that bumble bees have.
Carpenter bees can grow from a quarter of an inch to a full inch. They have six legs, a set of antennae pointing straight down from their head, and wings.
Carpenter bees differ from bumble bees in a couple of important ways. As previously mentioned, they have shiny, black abdomens instead of striped, hairy abdomens. It’s an important distinction because it is much easier to determine if the bees you see are bumble bees or carpenter bees if you know what each looks like.
Another difference between carpenter bees and bumble bees is their lifestyles. Carpenter bees tend to be solitary insects, while bumble bees are social insects. Although some carpenter bees form small colonies, most prefer to live in the solitary holes they drill. Bumble bees, on the other hand, live in large colonies together.
As their name suggests, carpenter bees spend time around wooden structures. They also damage those wooden structures. Unlike termites, they don’t eat wood but drill holes in wood to build their nests to lay eggs.
Although one small hole in a deck railing might not be a big deal, over time, more and more holes will be drilled by the carpenter ants on your property, leading to more and more damaged wood. Eventually, the wood that carpenter bees have damaged could become unsound.
Carpenter bees build nests in wood to provide a safe place for their eggs. They prefer softwoods, especially if they are weathered and unpainted or unstained. Once they lay the eggs, the eggs hatch into larvae, which remain in the nests until they mature.
Other than laying their eggs in the nests that they drill into wood, adult carpenter bees do not use these nests for anything else. They don’t live in them or spend any other time in them.
Only female carpenter bees can sting. Male carpenter bees do not have stingers. However, of the two, male carpenter bees are more aggressive than female carpenter bees. They are attracted to sudden movements, and since they tend to be territorial when they see these sudden movements, they’ll come very close to the person who is moving. Although this can be unnerving, you don’t have to worry about being stung by a male carpenter bee.
Although female carpenter bees can and will sting if they feel threatened, it’s relatively rare to come into contact with female carpenter bees, so the chances of getting stung by one are low.
Like all bees, carpenter bees are pollinators, so they are attracted to sweet things and bright colors. Flowers, fruits, sugary drinks, and other sweets are big attractants for carpenter bees.
Carpenter bees are also attracted to unfinished wood. This is especially true if the wood is soft or water-damaged, as it is easier for them to drill into to create the holes where they lay their eggs.
Carpenter bees may also be attracted to old nests used in previous seasons. Although this might sound like good news since reusing holes could mean fewer new holes, in reality, carpenter bees that use old holes will usually expand these nests, making the damage worse in the long run.
If you spot carpenter bees drilling into your fence or elsewhere on your property, contact got bugs? Termite & Pest Solutions for assistance. Since 2006, our locally owned and family-operated pest control company has been eliminating insects and rodents for Metro Atlanta residents, and we’d be happy to help you!
Avoiding a carpenter bee infestation is best since these bees can damage your home’s wooden structures. You can do a few things to make your property less appealing to carpenter bees. These things include:
You can seal cracks and crevices around your house so carpenter bees can’t get inside. This will help you avoid an infestation and damage within your walls.
Get In Touch
If you've got bugs or rodents infesting your home or yard, we can banish them for good! We are local pest control pros servicing Atlanta and are proud to offer quality treatments that deliver results.
Blog Posts
