Carpenter Bee

Important Considerations:

• Carpenter bees get their name from their nesting habits; Females bore holes into soft wood to lay their eggs.
• Man-made wooden structures are especially susceptible to carpenter bee damage. The wood on treehouses, decks, and fences that are old and unpainted are the most vulnerable.
• Most encounters with carpenter bees are with the males. Although male carpenter bees love to fly near humans, they do not have a stinger, so they cannot hurt you. If you encounter a female, though, they can and will sting you if they feel threatened.

Where to Find Them on Your Property?

Since carpenter bees both lay eggs inside and overwinter inside their wood tunnels, this is where they are most often found. It is not uncommon to see a carpenter bee crawling out of a piece of wood. The places where the most often choose to create their nests are inside decks, house siding, eaves, and porches.