Buzz! No one likes bees. They sting, fly, and buzz and although they are beneficial to the environment, they can be harmful and a nuisance to humans. One type of bee, the carpenter bee, tends to drill into the outside of homes, ruining the wood. This article will help you learn how to identify them, what cause they have on humans and homes, and how you can treat/prevent them.

What do they look like?

Carpenter bees grow up to a half an inch to an inch. They have four wings, the top two being longer than the bottom. The bees are black with a yellow area right below the head. Female have a black face and males have a yellow face. There are seven species of carpenter bees, but the ones most commonly seen in the United States closely resemble a bumblebee, but the top of the bee is bare and shiny instead of fuzzy.

Where can I find them?

Unlike other bees, carpenter bees are not social and do not live in nests or with other bees. They like to burrow themselves wherever they can find wood, and likely they will find houses to do so. Carpenter bees like to drill small holes in the wood and stay there for shelter. Females will even nest and lay eggs inside the holes. They also will nest is other wood areas, like trees and firewood, but they usually do not effect humans in those spots.

Why is there saw dust?

Since bees like to drill into wood, you can most likely detect where they are by seeing a pile of saw dust. If there is a pile of saw dust, look up until you find a small hole. Do not be fooled though because although it seems like a small hole, the bees like to first drill in and then drill up or down. This creates a long tunnel parallel to the wood. Some of the tunnels range from inches to feet if not treated.

What do they eat?

The bees are very beneficial to the environment because they spread pollen throughout plants when they land on one. They feast on nectar from flowers and small insects, just like other types of bees.

How do they affect me and how can I prevent them?

Along with ruining the outside of homes, the bees are a nuisance to humans. Male carpenter bees are very territorial and will fly around humans faces if the humans come too close to the spot where they decided to burrow. The males do not have a stinger but the females do so you should be alert when bees are around. The bees rarely go for painted wood, so if you have a base case of carpenter bees, paint your house. Carpenter bees tend to drill where the wood is moist. Try to air out areas, like corners or ledges, where the wood does not get sunlight. If you see piles of saw dust at the base of home and notice the holes are also at the bottom of the home, you might also have carpenter ants. If you do see activity of carpenter bees the best thing to do is contact a professional company to come and treat it. If not treated, the bees can cause major damage to homes.