Carpenter bees are a very common pest in New Jersey; this is especially true among residences where there are wooden structures on the property, such as decks and children's play scapes. Unfortunately, carpenter bees can be destructive to property and can also pose a hazard to humans. While carpenter bees aren't inherently aggressive, they will sting if provoked or startled. By knowing how to identify signs of these pests on your property and get rid of them, you can keep your property safer this spring and summer.
Know the Signs of Carpenter Bees
Most carpenter bees begin to emerge and build their nests during the springtime months. They do this by boring into wooden structures and building the nests inside. Therefore, it is usually easy to identify carpenter bees on your property without even seeing the bees themselves. If you spot round holes in wooden structures that are about 1-2 inches in diameter, these have likely been created by carpenter bees. During the morning and evening hours, you will likely see bees entering the existing the nests themselves.
Contact a Professional Pest Control Company
If you have a carpenter bee problem on your property, the best course of action is to contact a professional pest control company rather than attempt to abate the problem yourself. Otherwise, you may run the risk of aggravating the bees and getting stung. A professional exterminator will know how to properly handle a bee problem safely and responsibly by treating the nest at the proper time of day and wearing the necessary protective equipment to avoid injury.
Seal Off Existing Carpenter Bee Holes
Once your property has been treated for carpenter ants, you may find that you're left with holes in your deck or other wooden structures where the nests once existed. The best way to cover these up (and prevent future nesting by bees) is to stuff the holes with steel wool before filling them with wood caulk. You can even find stainable wood caulk to ensure that the cover-up blends in with the rest of your deck and isn't noticeable.
Prevent Carpenter Bees in the Future
The best way to prevent carpenter bees in the future is to work with your pest control company. If your deck (or other wooden structure) is untreated, you may also want to consider having to painted, stained, or seal-coated to make it more difficult for bees to bore into in the future.
For more information or advice, contact an exterminator.
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