It’s that time of year again; as the seasons change, several common nuisance pests end their life cycles or retreat back to their dwellings to overwinter. One such pest is the carpenter bee.
This large, aggressive insect is known to wreak havoc on decks, trees, wood siding, and other timbers throughout your home.
While beneficial pollinators of the Insecta class, these oversized, shiny black bees are often viewed as pests due to their destructive habits while creating their annual burrows.
Unlike common honey bees, bumblebees, and even wasps, which build up their nests/hives, female carpenter bees tunnel into existing wooden structures and decaying trees.After years of repeated burrowing and nesting, these tunnels often lead to serious structural damage and costly repairs.
Additionally, carpenter bees can be extremely aggressive while protecting their burrows, with male carpenter bees often seen rapidly buzzing past anyone who comes near. Male carpenter bees sometimes fly directly into supposed threats to ward them off.
Luckily, carpenter bee season is very short in PA, allowing you to patch up abandoned dwellings and make necessary repairs.
When Is Carpenter Bee Season in the Northeast?
In the Northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania, carpenter bee season typically begins in late March to early April and lasts through October. These bees become active once daytime temperatures consistently rise above 60°F.
Spring is when you’ll first notice them emerging from overwintering sites to mate and begin burrowing into wood to lay eggs.
Peak activity usually occurs in late spring and early summer, when females are actively building nests and males are aggressively defending territory. By late fall, activity slows down as adult bees retreat into old tunnels or nearby wood to overwinter and prepare for the next cycle.
What Time of Year Do Carpenter Bees Go Away?
Carpenter bees in Pennsylvania typically begin to disappear in the late fall, around October, as temperatures drop.
Once it becomes too cold for them to stay active, they retreat into old tunnels or nearby wooden structures to overwinter. During this dormant phase, they remain hidden and inactive until the warmer weather returns in early spring.
While you might not see them flying around, they’re still present, just out of sight. This makes fall an ideal time to seal up old nesting holes and make repairs to prevent them from returning next season.
How Do I Know If I Have a Carpenter Bee Problem?
The signs of a carpenter bee infestation are relatively easy to spot, especially if you know how to look! Traditionally, female carpenter bees burrow ½” wide round holes approximately 1 to 2 inches into decaying and untreated wood such as felled trees or natural deck boards.
The holes then make a rapid turn alongside the natural wood grain, extending an additional 4 to 6 inches.
Therefore, the first inclination of a carpenter bee nest will likely be the ½” entrance hole, often littered with coarse sawdust and yellow stains from the bees expelling waste before entry.
Further, while females spend the majority of their time in their burrows, males can often be seen hovering around the entrance, either looking for a prospective mate or protecting their nest. Male carpenter bees are highly aggressive, though they don’t feel the need to run indoors or swat them off.
Like many species of bee, males lack stingers or venom glands, instead turning to intimidation tactics such as dive-bombing and crashing into threats. So if you notice a large black bee in your personal space, there’s likely a carpenter bee nest nearby.
Do They Come Back to The Same Spots Each Year?
As one could imagine, burrowing a tunnel 4 to 6 inches into solid wood expels loads of energy, which a female carpenter bee also requires to lay eggs. As a result, female carpenter bees often prefer to perform a quick renovation on an abandoned nest from the previous season rather than start from scratch.
For this reason, it’s relatively common to see carpenter bees returning to old nesting grounds annually.
However, this behavior can be increasingly damaging to wooden structures. As carpenter bees return annually, they’ll often burrow fresh tunnels alongside previous dwellings, expanding their nest and reducing the structural integrity of deck boards, posts, railings, and wood siding.
Tips to Keep Carpenter Bees Away
While carpenter bees may be a nuisance, it’s important to remember that, like all other bees and wasps, they’re essential pollinators to our crops and gardens.
As such, treating them with insecticides or exterminating them should be viewed as a last-ditch effort, unless infestations become incredibly severe and annual. Thankfully, there are several methods of keeping carpenter bees at bay without toxic chemicals, including preventative pest control.
Cover Up Exposed Wood
Prevention is the best tip for taking care of an infestation before it returns. Painting or varnishing exposed wooden surfaces is an excellent deterrent, while filling existing burrows will prevent bees from returning.
Use Synthetic or Treated Building Materials in Future Projects
Carpenter bees only burrow in wood; any synthetic building materials, such as composite decking or siding, are completely resistant to insects, including these burrowing pollinators.
Therefore, pressure-treated posts and other wooden building supplies are an excellent option for new structures due to their chemical treatment for pest and rot prevention.
Localized Pesticides
While insecticides aren’t ever recommended as a first resort, it’s important to use them as little as possible to avoid killing other bees and helpful pollinators. If you must use an insecticide, the preferred treatment methods involve localized chemical dust and spray applications.
These treatments are applied onto and around the entry holes into burrows, which reach the carpenter bees as they climb in and out of the nest. Once eradicated, you can then plug the entrances into burrows and repaint.
When using chemical insecticides, ensure that you’re wearing adequate protective gear and using the product as recommended by the manufacturer.
While carpenter bees may be a nuisance, they’re still an essential pollinator that should be protected whenever possible. Several prevention methods exist to keep your home free of these pesky pollinators while preserving their population and ecological benefits.
If all else fails, or you feel overwhelmed by the notion of taking on your carpenter bee infestation yourself, don’t hesitate to contact your qualified local pest control experts below for advice and services.
FAQs
When do carpenter bees come out in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, carpenter bees typically emerge in late March or early April as the temperatures begin to warm. They remain active throughout the spring and summer months until around October.
Do carpenter bees return to the same nest every year?
Yes, female carpenter bees often return to old nests from previous seasons. Instead of digging new tunnels, they’ll expand or reuse existing ones, which can lead to increased structural damage over time.
Are carpenter bees dangerous?
Male carpenter bees may seem aggressive as they guard the nest and hover near humans, but they don’t have stingers and can’t hurt you. Females can sting but are rarely aggressive unless directly handled.
