Carpenter bees driving me crazy

[Anonymous]

Another fun thing about them is that they chase away little bees that could actually sting you! So they’re kind of helpful. Kind of.

I just love them. I love when they hover and you can see their little antennas.

[Anonymous]

I am visited by carpenter bees for a few weeks each year and am happy to coexist with them. They play an important role in the ecosystem. After all, you can have flowers and vegetable gardens without pollinators. I can't imagine wanted to poison these delightful bees that pose no threat to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have so many carpenter bees flying around that’s it’s uncomfortable and loud to sit outside. I know they’re great pollinators but I need this to stop. I don’t like them flying around my head. I need to find a pest control company that can address this. Or least cut down on the number. Has anyone had success?

Grow up. Their benefit far outweighs the nuisance. God, must we kill everything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:but are they destroying something?
why are they called carpenter bees?

Put a smile pile of wood in a far corner. They'll go to town on it and leave you be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:but are they destroying something?
why are they called carpenter bees?

They build their nests in wood. However, you'd need a huge infestation to cause damage to wood. We always get some out back by our deck in the spring, but they use the same holes year after year. Also, they don't like painted wood so if you want to discourage them from using something, just paint it.

They are not like termites -- they don't eat the wood, just build nests in it. We have a regular bug guy who does preventative work around our house every year and he always checks on the deck and has told us he would not worry about our carpenter bees. They are terrific pollinators and are not considered pests unless you have such a large volume that they are boring new holes every year. They are good for your garden.

And they are really only around for April, maybe early May. It's a pretty short season. As bugs go, they are pretty harmless and actually very helpful.

They may not eat the wood but they destroy it to make a hole.

BFD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am visited by carpenter bees for a few weeks each year and am happy to coexist with them. They play an important role in the ecosystem. After all, you can have flowers and vegetable gardens without pollinators. I can't imagine wanted to poison these delightful bees that pose no threat to us.

I’ve been stung by one. Back of my knee while sitting on an outdoor chaise. Flew under my leg and then immediately stung me.

Didn’t hurt much initially, but within 24 hours a lump the size of sliced avocado had developed around the sting site. It was intensely itchy and painful. I needed several injections of steroids to reduce the swelling and itching. It was horrible in the long run for something that hurt very little to begin with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am visited by carpenter bees for a few weeks each year and am happy to coexist with them. They play an important role in the ecosystem. After all, you can have flowers and vegetable gardens without pollinators. I can't imagine wanted to poison these delightful bees that pose no threat to us.

I’ve been stung by one. Back of my knee while sitting on an outdoor chaise. Flew under my leg and then immediately stung me.

Didn’t hurt much initially, but within 24 hours a lump the size of sliced avocado had developed around the sting site. It was intensely itchy and painful. I needed several injections of steroids to reduce the swelling and itching. It was horrible in the long run for something that hurt very little to begin with.

It must have been a girl, or a different type of bee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:but are they destroying something?
why are they called carpenter bees?

They build their nests in wood. However, you'd need a huge infestation to cause damage to wood. We always get some out back by our deck in the spring, but they use the same holes year after year. Also, they don't like painted wood so if you want to discourage them from using something, just paint it.

They are not like termites -- they don't eat the wood, just build nests in it. We have a regular bug guy who does preventative work around our house every year and he always checks on the deck and has told us he would not worry about our carpenter bees. They are terrific pollinators and are not considered pests unless you have such a large volume that they are boring new holes every year. They are good for your garden.

And they are really only around for April, maybe early May. It's a pretty short season. As bugs go, they are pretty harmless and actually very helpful.

They may not eat the wood but they destroy it to make a hole.

BFD?

They’re cute, and I support them, but they can be extremely destructive. They drill their weirdly perfect holes in your siding and when their offspring are in the larval stage, woodpeckers will destroy your house to eat them. We have holes that are 6 inches by 18 inches post woodpecker visits.

[Anonymous]

We have hundreds of holes in our fence posts and I hate that, there is sawdust everywhere. But, I just leave them alone, I can't kill a living thing that is working so hard. Since they can't sting, they are just annoying flying in your face!

[Anonymous]

^^ same, they love our fence

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have hundreds of holes in our fence posts and I hate that, there is sawdust everywhere. But, I just leave them alone, I can't kill a living thing that is working so hard. Since they can't sting, they are just annoying flying in your face!

They can DEFINITELY sting.

Don’t believe it? Grab one in your hand and don’t let go of it. Let us know how it turns out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have hundreds of holes in our fence posts and I hate that, there is sawdust everywhere. But, I just leave them alone, I can't kill a living thing that is working so hard. Since they can't sting, they are just annoying flying in your face!

They can DEFINITELY sting.

Don’t believe it? Grab one in your hand and don’t let go of it. Let us know how it turns out.

Why would I put one in my hand and not let go? That seems a little ridiculous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have hundreds of holes in our fence posts and I hate that, there is sawdust everywhere. But, I just leave them alone, I can't kill a living thing that is working so hard. Since they can't sting, they are just annoying flying in your face!

They can DEFINITELY sting.

Don’t believe it? Grab one in your hand and don’t let go of it. Let us know how it turns out.

Why would I put one in my hand and not let go? That seems a little ridiculous!

Yeah. That's a pretty dumb statement. The only carpenter bee that has a stinger is the female and they are not the sentries. They're not very often out of the nest to begin with. And when they are they're flying around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:but are they destroying something?
why are they called carpenter bees?

They build their nests in wood. However, you'd need a huge infestation to cause damage to wood. We always get some out back by our deck in the spring, but they use the same holes year after year. Also, they don't like painted wood so if you want to discourage them from using something, just paint it.

They are not like termites -- they don't eat the wood, just build nests in it. We have a regular bug guy who does preventative work around our house every year and he always checks on the deck and has told us he would not worry about our carpenter bees. They are terrific pollinators and are not considered pests unless you have such a large volume that they are boring new holes every year. They are good for your garden.

And they are really only around for April, maybe early May. It's a pretty short season. As bugs go, they are pretty harmless and actually very helpful.

They may not eat the wood but they destroy it to make a hole.

BFD?

You’re an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:but are they destroying something?
why are they called carpenter bees?

They build their nests in wood. However, you'd need a huge infestation to cause damage to wood. We always get some out back by our deck in the spring, but they use the same holes year after year. Also, they don't like painted wood so if you want to discourage them from using something, just paint it.

They are not like termites -- they don't eat the wood, just build nests in it. We have a regular bug guy who does preventative work around our house every year and he always checks on the deck and has told us he would not worry about our carpenter bees. They are terrific pollinators and are not considered pests unless you have such a large volume that they are boring new holes every year. They are good for your garden.

And they are really only around for April, maybe early May. It's a pretty short season. As bugs go, they are pretty harmless and actually very helpful.

They may not eat the wood but they destroy it to make a hole.

BFD?

They’re cute, and I support them, but they can be extremely destructive. They drill their weirdly perfect holes in your siding and when their offspring are in the larval stage, woodpeckers will destroy your house to eat them. We have holes that are 6 inches by 18 inches post woodpecker visits.

Look, can they be destructive over time? Yes. Are they usually? No. I live next to parkland. Lots of wood, trees, dead wood, and we have wood flower boxes, furniture etc. . . . we get TONS of these guys all spring/summer. They are not "extremely destructive" as a general proposition. The one thing they've destroyed was my wood mailbox holder and that was over a 15 year period.