Spring is a time when dead plants come back to life, and hibernating species wake up. However, it is also the season of unwanted guests, and they are carpenter bees. They may seem like regular bees– harmless until provoked. However, they can cause great damage to your property if left unchecked and ignored.
Carpenter bees are not as innocent as one may think them to be. So, if you see one around, you should become aware. Adult carpenter bees mate, fight, and exhibit territorial behaviors when they emerge from the woods after the cold months. If you are dealing with an infestation, get Pest Control in Colleyville today.
Do carpenter bees increase in number in the spring?
Springtime is the time for mating for carpenter bees. This is why they become busy in the search for mates. You may notice a lot of them hovering around your decks, eaves, and fences and near any wooden furniture. All carpenter bees are territorial and aggressive in nature, but it is the female ones that pose a danger.
Female carpenter bees constantly tunnel your wooden furniture if not stopped. This can lead to damage and costly repairs. Even though the female bees do not sting you until provoked, their stings can be extremely painful.
How long will they be around for?
Carpenter bees become the most active during the months of April and May. You still have a couple of months to prepare for their arrival. A telltale sign that they have come is sawdust beneath your wooden furniture or any wooden structure. It occurs when a female bee chews on the wood with her strong mandibles.
The female bees lay their eggs and pollen for the larvae to eat. After that, they die, and you do not see any of them until the end of summer. That is when these eggs become adults. They come back in the fall and then remerge in the spring of the next year.
Preparing your home for carpenter bee season
Here are some steps you can take to prepare your home for carpenter bee season.
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Repair carpenter bee holes.
Carpenter bees drill holes in wood to lay their eggs. If they have done some drilling in your home before, they might come back the following year to lay some more. Before they do, repair them. Look for any other holes of that size to avoid attracting them.
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Paint and prime your wood.
Carpenter bees prefer laying their eggs in wood that has not been treated, that is, painted or primed. This does not mean that they will not lay eggs on coated wood. However, it will deter them to some extent.
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Use carpenter bee traps.
A more effective way of dealing with carpenter bees is to set up traps. These traps work to a radius of 15 ft. Therefore, depending on the area of your house, determine how many you will need to buy.
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Set up the traps.
Once you hang your traps, it is time to set them. Using dead carpenter bees can attract live ones. Or else, the trap looks like a nest to them, so they will be attracted anyway.