carpenter bees

[Podunkadunk]

That is extremely cruel and disgusting.

 

[VABlue]

Carpenter bee's inhabitated the deck and fascia at my old house. I got rid of them just like Roy did - WD40 sprayed in the holes after dark, then plug them up with steel wool and caulk. They like soft, older wood, and will eat their way out if the holes are only plugged. The WD40 vapor kills them (as would some other such insecticide). They hibernate through the winter and come back to the same holes (or close by) in the spring. This is why closing them off needs to be done. Work it hard in the spring and most will be dead or gone through the summer months... Also, they tend to not want to eat through a thick coat of oil based paint, so get your paint on! Good luck!

 

[wrangler6831]

I've heard alot of good feed back about these but I haven't tried the yet.

You can get them through Welcome to Appalachian Log Structures, Manufacturer of Log Home Packages, 1-800-L0G-HOME

http://www.applog.com/images/housekit_lg.jpg


Rich

 

[riptides]

Noted something interesting about these critters.

I should write an article on it.

My property has a high investation of these bees. I was remodelling an old oak outbuilding. I used pine on some facia. While I was building it, a bee came by and examined my work. It landed after some inspection.

I killed it.

The next day, that same peice of wood, another bee came by.

After inspection, it landed in the same spot as the other bee. And started boring.

I killed it too.

A few days later, yep.... here comes another bee.

Same behaviour, same spot. met with same fate as others.

Yes, I work slow.. no comments.

I observed a nice hole in the same spot, I mean EXACT same spot as the other bees. About a week after my last kill.

I wonder how they do that? Must be something in the wood. Very interesting.

 

[rtimgray]

I've been remodeling an old barn that has always had carpenter bees around. I got tired of them buzzing me while 15' up on a ladder or scaffolding, so I tried something that would be at least a little fun -

My .22 revolver with ratshot (shotshells). I've had a really good success rate (probably about 3 out of 4 shots results in a kill. Of course, I have to be careful where I aim (don't want to shoot the tractor or cats or other stuff). My range is about 20 feet at most.

Now I'm not gonna say this is the best course of action, but it sure is fun.

Plus, it really impresses my 7 year old when I shoot a bee out of the air with pistol (I haven't clued him in to the shotshells yet!)

 

[FrogLick]

Riptides I think that it's probably an insect pheromone attracting them to the same spot. I use the "netting/heavy foot" technique to get my exercise and have often noticed that other bees will investigate the site of the kill on the ground. Seems to me that this pheromone attractant could be used somehow to develop a trap for control.

 

[heehaw]

i've been using the ole tennis rackett this year: got about 6 of the little buggers the other evening: i also keep a sprayer with bug killer close by for the ones i can't reach.
heehaw

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Brakleen takes them right out of the sky, and you don't get tennis elbow.

 

[aczlan]

we have had problems with wasps chewing through the facia and getting into the attic for 5+ years. the soulition I found last year may be useful to those on here. what I did was make a "Sevin Gun" a rough diagraham is below.


what happens is at night (1-2hrs after dark) I fill the 1-1/4" pipe most of the way with Sevin dust then I drill a 1/2" hole into the nest, spray some bee spray (or brakekleen, it is much cheaper) to quiet them down, then I hook the gun to a air tank, I stick the nose of the gun into the 1/2" hole and I empty the dust into the nest. that has killed them every time I have tried it so far.

YMMV


Aaron Z

 

[heehaw]

ok, what is brakeleen? i do tend to miss with the tennis rackett a lot
heehaw

 

[Skyco]

I've always heard they won't bore into painted or treated wood. I can say for a fact that is NOT true
I've got more of them this year than I've ever seen. I am also seeing a lot more "sweat bees" which I have rarely seen before. Interestingly I am seeing way fewer yellowjackets, but that may be due to my concentrated war on them with traps the last few years...ever since the little boogers nailed me good about 6 times one day For those that have never had a yellow jacket sting they hurt a lot. Got 3 stings on one hand and it swelled up so much I could hardly use it for days...
Brakleen- is a chemical solvent spray made for cleaning brake components on vehicles.
Tennis racket- I have one of those HF high voltage tennis rackets..makes quick work of many flying pests even if you just barely get 'em

 

[riptides]

I've always heard they won't bore into painted or treated wood. I can say for a fact that is NOT true

Agreed. This is an old wives tale. Perhaps it is a deterrant, but not a complete solution.

 

[heehaw]

i know they bore into red cedar: i have a porch swing they attach every year till i finally catch em..
heehaw

 

[wroughtn_harv]

The red cedar entryway I did up in "projects" under "this, that, and the other" got a Penofin red label finish laced with Bug Juice. Supposedly this is the end all for carpenter bees. I know it cost me almost sixty dollars for enough to treat five gallons of stain.