When people see a bee nest around their homes they sometimes worry as to the dangers they pose. Some bees, like Africanized bees can attack humans and other mammals for what seems like no reason. If you have found a nest of this type of bee, it is best to call an exterminator. Some times you may simply be seeing common honey bees that are in your yard for pollen from your plants. Honey bees normally do not bother people unless provoked. The type of bee we are dealing with today is the Wood bee that also goes by the names of Carpenter bee or Borer bee. While they are not as dangerous as the Africanized bee, as useful as the honey bee, or as harmless as a stuffed animal, they can still be damaging to your home.
Wood Bees are not a threat to humans. In many cases, it is possible to co-exist with these bees. Still, there could be some places that these bees might be occupying and you feel that they should not be there since they may be destroying wood and could be putting your home at risk.
Here is a plan that you should use to remove or prevent them yourself.
Borer Bees have a preference for softwood over hardwood. When you are looking at the kind of wood that you should use for any construction project, consider hardwood. This kind of wood is too hard to be drilled by this type of bee, hence they will be less likely to make your home their home. The most likely attacked type of woods by these bees are Cedarwood and other softwoods. Oak and maple are less likely attacked and are hence, good alternatives to use to keep them away.
Borer Bees do not really like treated wood. When constructing using softwood, you can treat the wood using any of the chemicals that are available. Painting the wood is also another available option that one may choose. These procedures are necessary as an option to keep these bees away from destroying the wood. The bees will avoid your structure since the kind of wood that is used is treated. Stained or varnished wood is not the best alternative to control these bees since they will still infest them.
You can get rid of the bees through blocking of their holes. When you find this, look for material that you can use to block it with. Cotton, steel wool or some clay is a good option. Once you block the nest, the bee will either die or migrate if it was not inside the nest. This is an cost effective way to control the bees since you will not incur the costs of buying insecticides. You should also repaint over the wood that has been infected with the bees after you block their entrance.
When the nest is new, you can stir up the colony to make it to migrate. Use a stick to prod in them. Be careful when you are doing this as this bee uses its sting only when it is threatened. Even though the male Carpenter Bee appear very territorial and aggressive, only the females have stingers. It is best to wait until dark if you are going to manipulate the nest in anyway.
You can use an insecticide if the infestation is doing damage or the nest is large. Please keep in mind that anytime you use chemicals you need to think about the other insects that may be affected.
