Carpenter Bee Pest Control in NY & VT

Carpenter bees in NY & VT are sometimes mistaken for bumble bees, since both are large with black and yellow coloring and fuzzy patches of hair on their thorax. However, bumble bees have yellow fuzzy abdomens, whereas carpenter bees have dark, shiny, hairless abdomens.

Unlike bumble bees and honey bees, carpenter bees are solitary, non-social bees, which means the females establish and tend to nests on their own, without the assistance of workers or drones.  Despite their solitary name, multiple females may infest a single structure.

In the spring, female carpenter bees bore tunnels into wood and divide the tunnels into cells, where they lay their eggs. Flying from flower to flower, the female collects pollen and nectar to feed her eggs. The larva and pupa develop in the cells in early summer, and the adults emerge in late summer.

While damaging to your home, carpenter bees are rather harmless to people and pets. In fact, the males, which are most likely to come in contact with humans, don’t even have stingers. Only the female carpenter bee is capable of stinging, and unlike social species, carpenter bees will not attempt to defend their nests with aerial sting attacks. Stinging rarely occurs and is usually the result of provocation, such as touching or handling.

Since carpenter bees prefer bare wood, painting and staining wood may help deter them. It’s also important to seal cracks and crevices along your home’s foundation and walls with a silicone-based caulk. If you suspect you have a carpenter bee problem, please contact us, so that we can provide you with a free inspection and advise you on the best treatment plan for your property.