Q
Your recent column on a possible insect infestation of an antique wooden cabinet reminded me of the carpenter bee problem I have every year.
I have tried to get rid of them with sprays and plugging the holes, but they come back every year.
I think some neighbors have them but I only see them near my garage. Is there any information or a place you could point me to, to better fight them off? I don’t usually get an early start on this; it comes to my attention when they start flying around.
A
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I am similarly plagued by carpenter bees each year, but in my mind there are more serious infestations: wasp nests under eaves, ant invasions of the downstairs bathroom sink, and relatives arriving unannounced.
I’m also not all that keen on using pesticides. I resort to them only when every other option but prayer has been exhausted.
Here’s what I know about carpenter bees, which are much less worrisome than carpenter ants.
The stingerless males are pushy but harmless. The females will sting if you bother them, but they rarely attack, according to Mike Potter at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.
Carpenter bees tunnel into wood to lay their eggs. Bare, unpainted or weathered softwoods are preferred, especially redwood, cedar, cypress and pine.
Painted or pressure-treated wood is much less susceptible to attack, Potter says, but I’ve watched them bore into both without hesitation.
Common nesting sites include eaves, window trim, fascia boards, siding, wooden shakes, decks and outdoor furniture.
After mating, the fertilized females excavate tunnels in wood and lay their eggs within a series of small cells, Potter says. Female bees may excavate new tunnels, or enlarge and reuse old ones. The extent of damage to wood used for nesting for years could be considerable.
Painting the wood is more effective than applying preservatives or stains, some experts say, but that hasn’t been my experience — they are tenacious.
Someone suggested that trapping the bee inside the nest, filling the hole with silicone caulk and painting over it will solve the problem. I’ve seen that solution also advocated on the Web, and tried it once, with some success. Perhaps caulk deters the bees in the same way as paint.
The experts also say that while pesticides such as wasp spray deter bees temporarily, the effects of these chemicals do wear off and areas need to be sprayed periodically.
The consensus is to prevent infestations before they occur, using treated wood or painting and using the correct insecticide. Some of these pesticides are more dangerous than others and require professional application. Be careful, and before you act, decide whether the cure is going to be worse than the problem.
Speaking of poisons. Even though National Poison Prevention Week is over, I would be remiss if I did not remind you to read the label of every product you use, especially cleaning products you keep under the sink. Not just once, but every time you use it. A survey of 1,008 Americans by the Soap and Detergent Association found that only 8 percent said they read the label every time they use a cleaning product.
E-mail questions to Alan J. Heavens at [email protected].