Carpenter Bees in Cleveland
Carpenter ants earned their name due to their wood-boring habits. They are most active in the early spring through summer and will bore one-half (½) inch wide holes into wood. They will appear perfectly round on the exterior and will bore in house siding, window trim, eaves, fascia boards, porch ceilings, shingles, decks, and even outdoor wood furniture. They do this to create chambers for raising their young. Carpenter bees, along with the bumblebee, are the largest native bee species in the United States. They can be found in the southern and eastern regions of the United States. Carpenter bees do not eat wood, but they will excavate tunnels in the wood. They focus primarily on dry and weathered lumber and can cause damage to timber or wooden structures.
Carpenter Bee Habitat
The carpenter bee is not a social insect and lives in isolated nests on the sides of structures, in trees, and in eaves. Males and females will spend the winter in old nest tunnels and mate in the spring when they emerge. Once the female has mated, she will find a suitable piece of wood to construct her nest, while the male will spend his time flying around the nest site. The female excavates a gallery with her mandibles and will finish the nest with a mixture of pollen and regurgitated nectar called “bee bread”. The female will deposit her egg and close the cell with chewed wood pulp. If you notice a large amount of sawdust and pollen on the ground, there is a likelihood that a carpenter bee infestation is taking place.
Carpenter Bee Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
Female carpenter bees will sting if provoked but are rarely aggressive. If a bee sting occurs to someone with an allergy, medical attention should be sought immediately. Male carpenter bees are known to be defensive when protecting and defending their nest. They do not possess a stinger and cannot sting. Carpenter bees can help with pollination, but they are also capable of damaging structures, including decks, windowsills, railings, wooden siding, fences, and outdoor furniture. While a few individual carpenter bees may cause minor damage, numerous bees over the years can result in considerable damage. An excavating bee can make a gallery that will extend about 4 to 6 inches, but galleries used multiple times can measure up to 10 feet long. If you suspect a carpenter bee infestation, it is recommended to contact a bee control professional.
