How to Tell Carpenter Bees From Bumblebees
Carpenter bees are large, about an inch long, and they look a lot like bumblebees. The difference is on the back half of the body.
- Carpenter bee: A shiny, smooth, black abdomen with little or no fuzz, and a yellow fuzzy patch on the front
- Bumblebee: A fuzzy body all over, with yellow and black bands on the abdomen
Bumblebees and honey bees are helpful pollinators, and they nest in the ground or in hives, not in the wood of your house. We only treat carpenter bees where they are damaging wood.
Signs of Carpenter Bees
- Round holes about half an inch wide in wood, as if drilled with a bit
- Coarse sawdust in small piles below the holes
- Yellow or brown stains on the wood or siding below the hole, from bee waste
- Large bees hovering around eaves, decks and porches, often chasing anything that comes near
- A buzzing or humming sound from inside the wood
- Woodpecker damage, since birds sometimes tear into wood to eat the larvae
Where Carpenter Bees Drill
Carpenter bees like softwood that is bare, weathered or unpainted.
- Fascia boards, eaves and soffits
- Deck rails, posts and the underside of decks
- Porch ceilings and railings
- Pergolas, arbors and pergola beams
- Window frames and trim
- Fences, sheds and outdoor furniture
- Wood siding, especially cedar and redwood
Downers Grove has many homes with decks, porches, wood trim and pergolas, which gives carpenter bees plenty of places to choose from.
What Carpenter Bees Do
Male bees hover and act aggressive, but they cannot sting. The males are the ones that dive at you. Female bees can sting, but they rarely do unless handled.
The damage adds up. The entrance hole is small, but inside, the bee digs a tunnel that runs along the grain of the wood, often for several inches or more. Bees reuse and extend these tunnels each year, and new generations dig more. Over time this can weaken wood and leave stains and holes.
Woodpeckers make it worse. Birds can tear open the wood to reach the larvae.
When Carpenter Bees Are Active
- Spring: Adult bees come out of the wood, mate and start new nesting tunnels. This is when you first see the bees and fresh holes
- Early summer: Females lay eggs in the tunnels
- Late summer: A new generation of adults appears and feeds before winter
- Fall and winter: Adults rest inside the tunnels
Treating in spring and again in late summer is the most effective schedule.
How We Control Carpenter Bees
1. Inspection. We look over decks, eaves, trim, fences and other wood to find the holes and see how far the activity goes.
2. Treat the tunnels. We apply a treatment into the holes so the bees and the young inside are killed.
3. Treat the wood. We treat the surface of the wood to help stop new bees from starting new tunnels.
4. Seal the holes. Once the bees are gone, holes should be filled with wood putty or a dowel, then painted or stained. Sealing too early can trap bees or make them dig a new hole, so timing matters.
5. Advice to prevent it from returning. We show you which wood is at risk and what to do to protect it.
Ways to Protect Your Wood
- Paint or stain exposed wood, since bees prefer bare, weathered surfaces
- Choose hardwood or pressure treated wood for new decks and trim when you can
- Fill old holes once the bees are gone
- Repair damaged wood early
- Check eaves, decks and porches every spring for new holes and sawdust
- Keep an eye out for woodpecker activity
Carpenter Bee Control Across Downers Grove
We treat carpenter bees in homes and businesses throughout Downers Grove, including ZIP codes 60515 and 60516, and in nearby towns such as Lisle, Woodridge, Westmont and Darien. If you are close by, call us anyway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do carpenter bees sting?
The males cannot sting, and they are the ones you see flying at you. The females can sting but rarely do, unless they are grabbed or their nest is threatened.
Do carpenter bees damage wood?
Yes. Each hole leads to a tunnel that can grow longer each year. Over time, several tunnels can weaken the wood and cause stains and holes.
Will carpenter bees leave on their own?
Some may move on, but they often return to the same wood in later years, and more tunnels get added. Treating the wood is the best way to stop them.
Can I fill the holes myself?
Yes, but only once the bees are gone. If you plug a hole with a live bee inside, it may chew a new way out, which can make more damage. It is best to treat first and then seal.
Is painting or staining wood enough to stop them?
It helps a lot, since bees prefer bare, weathered wood. But bees can still drill into painted wood, especially softwood, so painting alone may not solve an active problem.
Are carpenter bees dangerous for children and pets?
They are not likely to harm anyone. Still, avoid touching them, and keep children and pets away from nests. If someone has a sting allergy, call a doctor.
Is carpenter bee treatment safe for children and pets?
Your technician follows the product label and tells you where products were applied and how long to keep children and pets away from treated wood.
Related services: Wasp and Hornet Nest Removal | Carpenter Ant Control | Home Pest Protection Plan