Carpenter bees get their name from their habit of building nests in wood. They form tunnels in the wood, which is where they lay their eggs. Knowing where these bees are likely to build nests can help you to prevent potential problems. We’ve made a list of places where carpenter bees often build nests.
1. Exterior of Your Home
The exterior of your home offers several potential nesting sites for carpenter bees. Wooden siding or shingles can be attractive to these bugs. Your doors, windowsills, and framing can also be used to construct nests. Carpenter bees can burrow into wooden timbers and fascia boards as well. Though their burrowing often creates cosmetic damage, it can lead to structural damage if carpenter bees continue to build nests year after year.
2. Decks & Sheds
Decks are a common nesting site for carpenter bees if the wood is left unpainted or becomes weathered. Carpenter bees can create nests in wooden posts or wooden boards on the top or underside of the deck. Railings, railing posts, and stairs can also be inhabited by carpenter bees. Sheds, and other wooden structures, can become a nesting site for these bees too.
3. Fences
Like other wooden structures on your property, your fence can attract carpenter bees too. They like to burrow into wooden posts or boards. The nest will start as a round entrance hole. From there, the bees branch outwards, tunneling up to 12" deep. Because carpenter bees like to reuse nests, their nests can grow larger from repeated use.
4. Outdoor Furniture
Your patio or deck furniture isn’t safe from carpenter bees. Wooden chairs and tables can be a great nesting spot for these bugs. Carpenter bees may also be attracted to your children’s wooden playset. The best way to protect your furniture is to paint it. The layer of paint will make the wood less attractive to carpenter bees because it makes it harder for them to tunnel into it.
5. Trees & Logs
Though your home is a favorite hang out spot for carpenter bees, they also like to nest in trees. These bees will build their nests in dead tree limbs or logs. They prefer softwoods like cedar, cypress, pine, and redwood. If you have woodpiles in your yard, they can also be a potential nesting site for carpenter bees. Covering the woodpile with a tarp can help to keep carpenter bees away from it.
How to Identify a Carpenter Bee Nest
Properly identifying a carpenter bee nest will help you to control an infestation and help to prevent future infestations. Check out a few ways to determine if carpenter bees have settled down on your property.
- Look for the Nest Entrance: Carpenter bee nests can be identified by the entrance hole. It is nearly perfectly round and has a diameter of 1/2".
- Check for Sawdust: You may notice sawdust on the ground below the nest entrance hole. As the carpenter bees excavate the wood, they often leave behind sawdust known as frass.
- Look for Staining on the Wood: Yellowish-brown stains may also be found on the wood near the entrance. These are caused by carpenter bee droppings.
- Spotting Carpenter Bees: Male carpenter bees are often spotted hanging out near the entrance hole. They stand guard, protecting the nest from potential predators or other insects wanting to nest in the same spot.
Having carpenter bees move into your space can be worrisome, which is why it’s important to take steps to prevent their arrival. Making your space less attractive, often by painting wooden structures, can help to deter carpenter bee activity. If you’re dealing with carpenter bees or other bugs, we want to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution when used as directed.