Carpenter Bees ...

[Southernspeed]

Is there actually anything that either kills them or keeps them away? All 4 barns were swarming with them today. I tried all kinds of lotions and potions last year to no avail. At this rate I'll be rebuilding the barns before long! Even my new 'treated' fence posts that I put in last year suffered from them, and then of course the Woodpecker had to do his bit as well!
Apart from a scattergun or napalm, I'm at a loss as to how to beat them!

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Got kids or grandkids? Buy em a badminton racket!
In the new horse stable I remember an old guy told me (I'm 70...he was probably 90) to just blow up some brown paper bags and put them up high. They look like hornet nests so carpenter bees leave. So far haven't seen any. Otherwise I use spray for bees, brake clean, whatever is handy.
They even drill pressure treated wood. I took down a shed and they drill up and over as you know.

 

[Southernspeed]

Got kids or grandkids? Buy em a badminton racket!
In the new horse stable I remember an old guy told me (I'm 70...he was probably 90) to just blow up some brown paper bags and put them up high. They look like hornet nests so carpenter bees leave. So far haven't seen any. Otherwise I use spray for bees, brake clean, whatever is handy.
They even drill pressure treated wood. I took down a shed and they drill up and over as you know.

No kids etc but I'm pretty good with a lead rope with a knot on the end! I've heard about the paper bag thing, may have to give that a try. I've hit them hard with brake cleaner, WD40, chain cleaner... they just go dry off and come back for more! And I haven't found a insecticide that works yet despite manufacturer's claim of instant death!

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Spray a little of this or any brake cleaner in the hole.

 

[jaxs]

When I've found them in a building the first thing I do is paint bottoms of wood with a roller and light color oil base paint. They seem to pass up painted surfaces plus light color make's it easy to see holes with a headlamp at night while bees are resting inside. I splice a garden sprayer wand with copper tube so I can place nozzle in holes and give bees a bath without using a ladder. I used Dursban and Diazinon until they were taken off the shelf,now I use Bifen I keep on hand for termites and ants. Sometimes few sneaky ones in wall girts escape and have to dealt with one by one as time allows.

 

[seville009]

I have an exterminating company spray my house exterior and other structures (sheds, gazebos) each spring for bees. Costs about $250, and have never had an issue with bees since.

 

[mikester]

WD-40 works, leaves a residue they don't like, and doesn't evaporate as fast as brake cleaner. You need to spray deep in the hole which goes only about an inch in then does a 90 and the will burrow for several feet to deposit their eggs. Spray until overflowing. I use 1/16 air line over the WD-40 straw to get passed the 90 degree bend. I also snake the holes using 0.030 weld rod with a hook bent into the end to fish them out. Caulk the holes shut right away or you will invite future visitors.

 

[Southernspeed]

Spray a little of this or any brake cleaner in the hole.View attachment 790444

I’ve hit the bees directly with that to no effect. I can try it on some holes but there’s hundreds and many are 20+ feet up. Thanks.

 

[WinterDeere]

Guys, this is a pretty easy problem. I own older houses and barns, which these buggers love to use for nesting, so I've followed a quick and simple protocol used by the pros:

1. Get yourself a duster ($20), some bee dust ($25), and a bag of #2 corks. Links below.
2. Insert duster tip into carpenter bee hole, anytime you hear them in there, and give it a squeeze.
3. Enjoy the sound of dying carpenter bees, they don't go quietly. Most will fall out of the hole and die on the ground.
4. After things go quiet (half hour), stick a cork in the hole and leave it there for a few days, to be sure there's no more entering/exiting. The cork is soft and easy for them to chew thru, which prevents them from boring a fresh hole in your wood if you failed to get them all, and gives you an easy sight gauge on whether that nest is actually finished.
5. The following weekend, remove cork, patch and paint, as needed. Corks are re-usable for years on end, a bag of 25 might last you a lifetime.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VX7Q4D7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Insecticide-Carpenter-Silverfish-Scorpions-Millipedes/dp/B0BVDN7Q2S/ref=sr_1_3?crid=QDGH4E8D05DE&keywords=carpenter+bee+duster&qid=1679657705&s=industrial&sprefix=carpenter+bee+duster%2Cindustrial%2C78&sr=1-3

 

[Southernspeed]

Guys, this is a pretty easy problem. I own older houses and barns, which these buggers love to use for nesting, so I've followed a quick and simple protocol used by the pros:

1. Get yourself a duster ($20), some bee dust ($25), and a bag of #2 corks. Links below.
2. Insert duster tip into carpenter bee hole, anytime you hear them in there, and give it a squeeze.
3. Enjoy the sound of dying carpenter bees, they don't go quietly. Most will fall out of the hole and die on the ground.
4. After things go quiet (half hour), stick a cork in the hole and leave it there for a few days, to be sure there's no more entering/exiting. The cork is soft and easy for them to chew thru, which prevents them from boring a fresh hole in your wood if you failed to get them all, and gives you an easy sight gauge on whether that nest is actually finished.
5. The following weekend, remove cork, patch and paint, as needed. Corks are re-usable for years on end, a bag of 25 might last you a lifetime.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VX7Q4D7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Insecticide-Carpenter-Silverfish-Scorpions-Millipedes/dp/B0BVDN7Q2S/ref=sr_1_3?crid=QDGH4E8D05DE&keywords=carpenter+bee+duster&qid=1679657705&s=industrial&sprefix=carpenter+bee+duster%2Cindustrial%2C78&sr=1-3

Thanks for the links, I’ll certainly try this on the lower more accessible ones but the ones that are 30-40 feet up are out of the question.
During the day they seem to hang out around the shed row barn, flying around. I was hoping to find something that will just kill on contact like a fly spray would.
Maybe I need a flame thrower

 

[Thomas]

Spray a little of this or any brake cleaner in the hole.View attachment 790444

Works great on wasp nest high up.

 

[ruffdog]

I have read that carpenter bees hate citrus oil or spray. Maybe try squeezing a lemon/lime/orange by the hole just to try it.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Demon WP. I've tried at least a half dozen other insecticides with no success. I had heard or read that Carpenter Bees do not attack painted surfaces. Ha! Forget that. I have a beautiful potting bench that I built and painted with 2 coats of Behr. It was drilled with holes within 6 months. I have a 'holy' front porch & deck that has 'bullet holes' all underneath it.

Demon WP does work! Demon doesn't kill them upon contact but they do die within 24 hours or so. Mix 2 little packets in 1 gallon of water, spray area with a pressure sprayer, and forget it for the season.

 

[WinterDeere]

Thanks for the links, I’ll certainly try this on the lower more accessible ones but the ones that are 30-40 feet up are out of the question.
During the day they seem to hang out around the shed row barn, flying around. I was hoping to find something that will just kill on contact like a fly spray would.
Maybe I need a flame thrower

The dust kills on contact. It takes several minutes to do its work, but if you can get it onto them, they will die. Short of that, I've never seen anything that does them in.

Before dusting, I used to shoot them out of the air with wasp spray (it has reach), but would have to step on them to actually kill them. They can usually take a direct hit from wasp spray, and if you don't step on them, they'll be back up and flying as soon as they dry off.

 

[kenmbz]

I put up some home made wood traps.
woodpeckers always seem to find them when they do set in before I do though :-(

It's been so rainy here I don't think paper bags would last very long.

Maybe back to the tennis racket.

 

[ruffdog]

Using citrus.......

Using Citrus Oil To Prevent Carpenter Bees - Spray Recipe and Instructions - The Pest Informer.

How to Make a Homemade Carpenter Bee Spray - Green Pest Solutions.

 

[WinterDeere]

“You hear about the new roach spray? It doesn’t kill the roaches, but it fills them with self doubt as to whether or not they’re in the right house.” -George Carlin

Sorry, the citrus spray reminded me of this.

 

[JJT]

I've tried everything from traps to tennis rackets to .22 shot, nothing beats

FenvaStar EcoCap.​

In the spring I treat exposed wood, twice a few days apart and then repeat again in the fall. It's not immediate, one poisoned bee will poison several more. A few days after treating you'll see tons of dead bees, and then no more bee activity for months. My hand held sprayer will reach the eaves, so no ladders and dusting every single hole. 8 ounces, $16 a year and less than 2 hours of time.

I have seen a poison that kills on contact, but you cannot get it in NY.

Bee spray is ineffective, these things are in the ant family, I believe.

Two coats of quality paint seems to work, they really like bare wood, even pressure treated.

 

[etpm]

I’ve hit the bees directly with that to no effect. I can try it on some holes but there’s hundreds and many are 20+ feet up. Thanks.

When you used the brake cleaner was it the chlorinated stuff? I have never seen any flying insect able to resist chlorinated hydrocarbons of any sort. Brakleen comes in two types, chlorinated and non-chlorinated.
Eric

 

[Duds13]

I have an exterminating company spray my house exterior and other structures (sheds, gazebos) each spring for bees. Costs about $250, and have never had an issue with bees since.

^^^ This ^^^