Carpenter Bees

What are carpenter bees?

Adult carpenter bees are large ranging from about 1/2 to 1 ½ inches long and robust. Carpenter bees are often mistaken for bumble bees because of their size. To properly identify these bees, look for their skinny, black abdomen and “hovering” flight pattern. Unlike other stinging insects, carpenter bees are solitary, rather than social, insects. They each bore a hole and then a gallery into wood, leaving behind perfectly circular 1/2 inch holes and small piles of yellow sawdust. Their droppings, which are a golden, sappy excretion, can also be found under their bored out holes. Unlike termites, carpenter bees do not eat wood, but use it to create partitions between egg cells. They prefer soft woods such as cedar, cypress, pine and redwood. Multiple breeding pairs and successive generations may tunnel in the same area, creating extensive damage over a few years.

Why do I have them?

If you have an ample supply of soft wood located around your property, such as wood decks, fascia boards that run along the roof line, porches, sheds, picnic tables or wood swing sets, you may attract carpenter bees and ultimately have a carpenter bee problem.

Are they dangerous?

Female carpenter bees can sting, but are usually docile. Males have no stingers, but are highly aggressive, buzzing loudly to try and scare you as they hover around tunnel openings and dive bomb anyone who may come near. The real danger with carpenter bees comes from their ability to damage wood and cause structural weakness.

How do I get rid of carpenter bees?

Carpenter bees are a particularly difficult species of bee to eradicate because each nesting hole and gallery must be treated directly to be effective. If one of the holes or galleries is missed in the treatment process then you will still have a carpenter bee problem. A ChemTec pest professional will design a customized bee elimination program that fits the specific needs of your property, with the goal of eliminating all of the destructive carpenter bees.

Can I do it myself?

Due to the difficult treatment process to get rid of carpenter bees which involves locating each individual hole and gallery, these bees are not a pest many property owners have much success eliminating on their own. Many do-it-yourself remedies to rid your property of carpenter bees simply do not work as the materials they use are not effective. Remember – if misused or mixed improperly, do-it-yourself pesticides can be very dangerous to people, pets or plants.

Is the treatment safe?

The pest professionals at ChemTec Pest Control will first correctly confirm the presence of carpenter bees around your home or business, and then create a treatment plan that will eliminate your pest problem quickly and in an environmentally responsible manner. Before any treatments begin, our inspectors will consult with you regarding your children, pets, and gardens and then based on your current situation; they will then customize a treatment plan specifically for you.

How soon can you get here?

ChemTec Pest Control is committed to helping you as soon as possible. In most cases, we can respond the same or very next day.

What is the guarantee?

Our guarantee is simple: if you are not completely satisfied, we will give you your money back. If you have a problem with the pest after our services, just call us and we will come back to re-treat for the pest at no additional charge within the warranty period. We want all of our customers to be completely satisfied with our services and we will always work towards that goal.  Please visit Our Guarantee page for more information.

How can I prevent this in the future?

Many carpenter bee problems can be difficult to prevent so many of our customers choose a continuous Protection Program to help guard against future carpenter bee infestations.

Where does ChemTec Pest Control service?

ChemTec provides service in Saddle Brook, Franklin Lakes, Hackensack, and throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union Counties in New Jersey. We also provide service to Rockland and Orange Counties in New York.