We have discussed in previous articles how in many cases pest infestations are linked directly to a set of existing conducive conditions. These types of conditions can be a variety of factors such as temperature, moisture level, availability of food, and others.
You are probably already aware of these factors. However, did you know that certain pests have particular preferences that, when existent in and around your home, attract them like a magnet. One excellent example of this truth is the carpenter bee. While these pests can infest almost any wooden structure, they can be much more destructive under certain conditions.
So the question is: what exactly attracts carpenter bees to your home, and how can you mitigate the threat they pose?
In the southeastern United States, the most common species of carpenter bee is the Xylocopa Virginica, better known as the Eastern carpenter bee. It is a species of large carpenter bee, and it can grow to almost an inch in length as an adult.
Carpenter bees can be difficult to identify when compared to other bees. Like bumble bees and honey bees, they have a distinctive yellow-black striped body coloration. However, the best way to spot a carpenter bee is to identify its “shiny” abdomen due to their lack of visible body hairs in this area.
This species of carpenter bee is a solitary insect, and thus you will not see large carpenter bee colonies. Carpenter bees are a type of wood boring pest. However, unlike termites, carpenter bees simply excavate and remove wood, rather than consuming it. Carpenter bees typically consume nectar and plant pollen. Due to this, they typically infest in areas that are close to both the home and an outdoor source of flowers and other flora.
Carpenter bee females will dig out tunnels to form a nest for their young. These tunnel systems, also known as galleries, vary in size. The females will seal the galleries after laying eggs, leaving the young to hibernate and develop throughout the winter.
While most regions only have one mating season for carpenter bees, warmer regions can have more than one. Without an available space to excavate a gallery, however, the bees cannot reproduce.
Thus, the most important factor that determines the attractiveness of a structure to carpenter bees is the availability of wooden surfaces for them to excavate and infest.
Carpenter bees prefer wood that is dry, unpainted, and preferably damaged in some way. They will often infest windowsills, roof eaves, decks, fences, outdoor furniture, and railing.
Inside of the home, you may also find carpenter bees in and around skylights. This can be especially problematic because these areas can provide the bees access to the interior of the home.
Carpenter bees can be destructive houseguests. Their excavation habits can leave behind holes in the wood that must be repaired, and on a large scale this can result in major damage. For this reason, homeowners will naturally want to identify any signs of carpenter bee activity as soon as possible.
Due to their large size and seemingly obvious signs of destruction, it may seem like an easy task to detect a carpenter bee infestation in our around a structure. However, it is important to remember that carpenter bees can and will often infest areas that are more secluded. Thus, an infestation in an area such as a skylight or in the roof eaves might not be easily spotted by the casual observer.
Beyond this, during the cold winter weather, carpenter bee galleries are sealed, and the hidden developing bees are completely protected. This can allow them to rest easy and emerge suddenly in the spring season, catching homeowners off guard. Due to this, homeowners should consider scheduling an inspection of their property by a licensed pest control service.
Doing this before the spring season can allow you to get a jump on identifying, treating, and preventing pest problems in your home during the warmer months.
At Volunteer Rid-A-Pest, we understand the importance of early action when it comes to dealing with an infestation. We have decades of experience treating pests of all kinds, and our highly trained technicians can identify even the most subtle signs of pest activity as well as any conducive conditions that could result in future infestation!
So if you are dealing with pests, or need an inspection of your home, call us today at 423-698-7205 OR 423-472-7736 to make pest problems a thing of the past!
