How To Keep Carpenter Bees Away From My Gilbert Home

You’re relaxing on your deck on a beautiful spring day when you notice a small, circular hole drilled into the wooden railing. Stranger still, there is a little pile of sawdust under the hole. And is that buzzing coming from inside the railing? What could it be….?

Carpenter bees! That’s right, there are bees that bore into wood, creating elaborate tunnels where they lay their eggs. Needless to say, this is not ideal for the wooden structures on your property, but there are measures you can take to keep carpenter bees and other Phoenix-area pests away from your Gilbert home. The first step is identifying these wood-boring bees and recognizing the signs of carpenter bee property damage.

Carpenter Bee Identification

Carpenter bees are often mistaken for bumblebees, as they are a similar size, shape, and color. The key difference is that bumblebees have a fuzzy abdomen with yellow and black stripes, while carpenter bees have a shiny black abdomen.

Carpenter bees also differ from other bees in their behaviors. They are solitary bees, whereas honey bees and bumblebees live in colonies. Instead of building hives, they lay their eggs inside the tunnels they create in wood. Carpenter bees are also less likely to sting than wasps or other bees—they are much more harmful to property than to people.

Carpenter Bee Damage In Gilbert, AZ

Carpenter bees drill into wood, creating a round hole about the diameter of your little finger. Once they are inside, they make a sharp turn and continue to tunnel through the wood. They then build a small offshoot within the tunnel for each individual egg, sealing each cell with regurgitated wood pulp.

Carpenter bee nest construction is actually quite impressive, but it’s bad news for Gilbert homeowners. A single nest is unlikely to cause serious property damage, but when the same wood is infested each year, this compromises the wood’s structural integrity. The entrance holes also allow moisture to get inside and rot the wood from the inside out.

How To Prevent Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees are a common pest during springtime in Gilbert, Arizona. If your house is made of wood, or if you have a wooden deck or fence, you are likely to experience issues with carpenter bees at some point. But never fear—we’ve put together a quick guide to deter carpenter bees and protect your property.

• Check out these carpenter bee prevention tips:
• Stain or paint the wood surfaces on your property, as carpenter bees typically will not bore into finished wood.
• Remove standing water on your property to eliminate water sources for bees.
• Install metal flashing on wood surfaces.
• Repair damaged rooflines to keep bees from burrowing into openings.
• Seal entrance holes made from bees with caulk to deter them from using the same holes the following year.

While prevention is crucial to avoiding property damage from carpenter bees, the most effective solutions will be provided by a licensed Gilbert pest control company.

Quality Carpenter Bee Control In Gilbert, AZ - What’s Bugging You Pest Control

Getting rid of carpenter bees on your own is a daunting task. Not only is it difficult to locate and remove the entire bee population, but you risk getting stung in the process. For safe and effective carpenter bee removal, call the experts at What’s Bugging You Pest Control.

We have proudly served Gilbert, AZ with exceptional residential and commercial pest control solutions since 2013. Carpenter bees are no match for our experienced pest control professionals.

Contact What’s Bugging You Pest Control and let us STOP what’s bugging you today!