Arrow Termite and Pest Solutions

General Information

Often mistaken for bumble bees, carpenter bees are commonly found in Spring and early Summer, buzzing around eaves and around wooden porch railings. Getting their name from their habit of boring holes into wood to create nests for reproduction. Carpenter bees are known to cause substantial damage to untreated wood, especially if the insects go unchecked for long periods of time.

Size: ½ to 1½ inches in length.

Color: Female Eastern Carpenter Bees are typically black with a shiny, almost metallic appearance. Male Eastern Carpenter Bees are similar in color but may have a patch of white or yellow on their faces.

Characteristics: life cycle of the carpenter bee is fairly brief, with eggs hatching a few days after being lain and reaching full maturity within 5-7 weeks. Females deposit a ball of pollen near their eggs, providing a source of nourishment for the offspring.

Habitat and Behavior: Carpenter bees tend to be found hovering around untreated wood, carving out tunnels to lay their eggs. While the bees do not consume wood, the insects can cause repeat damage by returning to the same tunnels year after year. Carpenter bees are not necessarily aggressive, but males, in particular, will vehemently defend their nests, even though males are incapable of stinging aggressors. In addition to holes bored in untreated wood, damage from carpenter bees is often characterized by frass, or fecal matter found around the openings