Why Do Carpenter Bees Drill In Wood

I ve seen plenty of nests located in pressure treated lumber so whatever is being injected does not seem to slow them down or kill them.

Why do carpenter bees drill in wood. Pressure treated lumber is generally well protected against decay fungi and most insects that eat wood. The sudden appearance of carpenter bees crawling out of wood often frightens people. But what they do have are mandibles and they use their mandibles like teeth. They will not destroy your house and they do not eat wood.

Wood boring carpenter bees resemble bumble bees but these large bees excavate tunnels in wood to make a nest whereas bumble bees nest in soil. Carpenter bees are so named because they drill into wood to lay their eggs and build their nests. Carpenter bees get their names by the perfectly round half inch or so diameter holes that they drill in wood for their nests. They re only drilling through it.

They can also create stains with their feces. But remember carpenter bees aren t eating the wood. Carpenter bees don t have teeth. While fairly harmless carpenter bees increase the number of nests over the course of years causing noticeable damage to wood.

This nest building can damage wood trim doors and so forth. Carpenter bees do not eat wood but cause damage to structures by drilling circular holes to create tunnels inside wood. The issue is that they nest in the same general area every generation so if you ignore them they can drill dozens of holes in your deck or wooden furniture over the years. Carpenter bees don t eat wood they only drill holes through them to build their nests and lay eggs.

In the spring the bees emerge from their winter nests mate and set about building this year s nest. Your best defense is a good offense. They re also pollinators which make them very important for helping crops and gardens grow. If an infestation has occurred you will need to use an insecticide to eliminate the carpenter bees.

They find it easier to make holes in unpolished or unpainted wooden objects such as doors window sills and railings. And once they find wood they want to nest in they ll use their mandibles to tear away in circular patterns that ultimately will fit their bodies perfectly. You can prevent carpenter bees from nesting in the first place by painting or varnishing your home s exterior. Carpenter bees aren t like termites or carpenter ants.

Carpenter bees get their common name from their habit of boring into wood. Carpenter bees prefer to excavate untreated unfinished wood. Basically they use them to cut and tear through wood they target for nest making.