Cedar siding vs. bees (and woodpeckers)

[rbstern]

Have a cedar sided house and the borer bees are eating more than their fair share of it. Of course, when the bees do their thing, then the woodpeckers come calling...circle of life and all that. So what started as a small hole on the bottom of a cedar side plank, becomes a large, ragged hole once the woodpecker is done.

The wife and I have talked about residing the house with cement-fiber planks (Hardy or similar), but it's an expensive project and the cedar siding is not not so far gone that it can't be repaired and restained.

Wondering if anybody has suggestions or a solution for keeping the bees away.

 

[dodge man]

We had the same problem, never really could stop it. We resided the house but not because of that.

 

[oosik]

Hmm...... that could be a problem. I have a double-walled cedar log home. Panabode out of Redmond, WA. I guess my salvation is - no borer bees around here. However - I'm frequently visited by flickers( a western variety of wood pecker). They check the house over very thoroughly for everything - pecking here and there. Never had them create a hole though.

I use to worry about their activities but they only explore the cracks between the logs - never peck on the open face.

 

[mcfarmall]

Make a bunch of carpenter bee traps if you're really in love with wood siding and see if you can catch most of them. There are tons of videos and plans on the internet. I personally prefer a hot fudge topping jar (glass) with a screw on lid, not the bayonet style.

 

[Ford850]

I tried all sorts of traps and other remedies, and wasted years watching the bees destroy cedar, redwood, and pine around my place. Then I found a routine of sprays that was fast, affordable, and extremely effective.
The first year I applied Permethrin SFR to knock them down quick, focusing on the holes in the wood. Then I sprayed Bifen IT after a couple weeks, and the Bifen lasts longer and keeps all bees and wasps off my cedar and keeps wasps or hornets from nesting behind my shutters. After that first year or two using both products, I now only apply the Bifen IT in the spring when I first see the wood bees, and then again around this time to last through the summer. I get both products from Do My Own - Do It Yourself Pest Control, Lawn Care, Gardening, Equipment & Animal Care Products & Supplies but I think its available from Amazon too. The Bifen IT is odorless and does not stain. There's also a Bifen XTR that is oil based and longer lasting, but I haven't tried that.

 

[wrangler6831]

I have a log home and have the same trouble. I found these Amazon.com : RESCUE! Non Toxic Trapstik for Wasps, Mud Daubers, Carpenter Bees with bird guard : Garden & Outdoor and have had great success with them in certain spots on my home. Others have said that they didn't get any results. Between two traps I have caught about 30 carpenter bees. As far as the woodpeckers go I use a piece of weed eater string to kill anything inside the hole then pack them with wood putty as deep as possible. I have seen signs where woodpeckers have came back but it looks like they just peck the wood putty a time or two then move on. Good luck, it seems like a never ending battle. ( If you have a Rural King store around you can get these trap for $7.00)

 

[zzvyb6]

Carpenter bee traps work. Can be made yourself or purchased. I see Home depot has a spray specific for carpenter bees.

I've dealt with them using 22 bird-shot in a pistol also. Turns them into sawdust. Kinda fun, not hard on the gutters.

 

[Deere Dude]

I tried all sorts of traps and other remedies, and wasted years watching the bees destroy cedar, redwood, and pine around my place. Then I found a routine of sprays that was fast, affordable, and extremely effective.
The first year I applied Permethrin SFR to knock them down quick, focusing on the holes in the wood. Then I sprayed Bifen IT after a couple weeks, and the Bifen lasts longer and keeps all bees and wasps off my cedar and keeps wasps or hornets from nesting behind my shutters. After that first year or two using both products, I now only apply the Bifen IT in the spring when I first see the wood bees, and then again around this time to last through the summer. I get both products from Do My Own - Do It Yourself Pest Control, Lawn Care, Gardening, Equipment & Animal Care Products & Supplies but I think its available from Amazon too. The Bifen IT is odorless and does not stain. There's also a Bifen XTR that is oil based and longer lasting, but I haven't tried that.

My barn was infested with carpenter bees so I made 7 hanging traps. I caught may 5 bees in time. Then I spent $$ for powder to put in a few holes so bees are suppose to leave when that goes in the hole. Those things worked minimally at best. I have 10,000 bee holes in the rafters and side boards and anything else made of wood, treated or nor, including trailers so going to each hole was out of the question.

The next year I got Bifen-IT through do-it-yourself pest control. I mixed 2 oz. per gallon in my pull behind sprayer. I sprayed every inch of wood I had in and out of the barn. I sprayed the sofitt and eves of the vinyl sided house and garage. I spray 6' around the hose for termite protection. I sprayed inside the garage, walls, corners, doors etc. I spray my log and split woodpile because they attract bees and bugs which I hate.

I sprayed in the spring and in the fall the first 2-3 years just to male sure bees and spiders and bugs stay away and don't come back home like carpenter bees do, and it works great. Now I just spray after the fruit trees are done blossoming.

For your house you would need maybe 3/4 gallon of Bifen-IT for a whole house. Maybe $20. Just spray it on and the bees stay away. But if you douse plants, bees stay away from them also, good or bad. If you spray onto the windows they will have to be washed because it will spot.

 

[rbstern]

Appreciate all the info, gents. Good to know there are potential solutions that stop short of replacing all of the siding.

 

[Stimw]

If you put the insecticide in mineral spirits and spray it on with a pump sprayer it will soak in instead of staying on the surface.
Or add dish soap to water/insecticide to make it wetter.