HOW TO DEAL WITH CARPENTER BEES

Among the most welcomed pests are bees. They are particularly loved by gardeners for the role they play in pollination. Even with all their beauty and benefits, bees can be a nuisance at times. Carpenter bees are the most dreaded for their destructive nature on wooden items. When they attack any part of your home, they should be dealt with to avoid furniture and roof destruction.

These fat bees mostly nest in the ground or wooden structures. They may create holes or use pre-existing ones. The eradication process for carpenter bees is a complex one. Unlike most insects, bees are very witty and often find a way of dodging pesticides. To get rid of the bees, there are a few techniques that must be applied correctly.

To learn the right approach for eradication of carpenter bees from home, keep on reading.

HOW DO YOU KEEP CARPENTER BEES AWAY?

Carpenter bees look like big, fat bumble bees that nest in the ground or in holes in wooden structures. Eradicate these pesky bees from the inside out with a few tips that will ensure the flight of bees in your home is a thing of the past.

1. BEE TRAPS

Simply the best method to get rid of carpenter bees, and aside from monitoring to release or discard carpenter bees, bee traps do not require maintenance or bait, making them a one-time investment.

2. SPRAY INSECTICIDE

bee trapsCarpenter bees burrow inside small holes in your home. In order to rid your house of these bees you’ll need to destroy them at the source. Spraying insecticide into their nesting holes will damage the hive and make sure that all the bees have been eradicated. Make sure to read instructions on the insecticide bottle and only use poisonous chemicals as directed.

3. USE INSECTICIDE RESIDUAL DUST

Getting rid of bees is one thing, but making sure they don’t return is another. To ensure you don’t need to worry about bees in the future, dust residual insecticide dust in the bee holes. Search your home for any new openings to ensure no new hives form. Make sure to wear the proper gear when dusting bee holes. Gloves, goggles, masks, long pants and long sleeves help keep insecticide residual dust away from your skin and respiratory system.

4. SEAL UP HOLES

Don’t let bees return to your abode. Fill up all holes after you’ve finished eradicating the hive. Apply small plugs, putty or caulking to holes to prevent future infestations. Just be sure to complete this step in the fall. You want the bees to make contact with the insecticide dust before doing this, so all the bees die off. Prematurely plugging holes can lead to bees chewing through your plugs and damaging all your hard work.

5. DEMOLISH NEW BEES

Safely swat bees you see flying around your home. The more bees you kill the better the odds that you will prevent future infestations. Make sure bees are disposed of properly in case they aren’t dead. Swatting them with a shoe or hard surface makes sure they won’t return. Remove dead bees from your property; pheromones might attract new ones.

6. GET NOISY

Carpenter bees hate noise, so the more noise you make, the less chance they’re likely to stick around. If you suspect bees have taken up residency in a spot in your home, set up a wireless speaker nearby. Not only will bees take flight for quieter surroundings, you can enjoy a few tunes, too.

7. GET NATURAL

If all that insecticide has got a bee in your bonnet, use an all-natural spray. Squeeze the juice of one lime, one lemon and one grapefruit into a plastic spray bottle. Chop up the rinds, and boil the rinds in a small pot of water. Pour the water into the spray bottle with the juice. Spray near the infestations. Carpenter bees hate citrus, so this should help keep them away for good.

8. CALL AN EXTERMINATOR

If all else fails, or if you’re worried about poison control in your home, always call an exterminator. A professional can locate the source of the infestation, eradicate the bees and plug up the holes, do bees don’t come back. This is the safest and surest method to get rid of an infestation, but it is also the most expensive. If you’re worried about the safety of pets and children then make sure to call a professional to ensure everyone in your home is safe from bee stings and insecticide.

9. SAFETY

hanging AST Carpenter bee t rapMake sure your home is safe for kids and pets after you’ve exterminated all bees. Insecticide sprays and dusts can be toxic for both your kids and pets, so keep them safe by cleaning up toxic areas after you’re finished. Keep pets and kids away from the infected areas until the infestation has been eradicated and the holes have been plugged. This will prevent any issues with poison control as well as serious bee stings.

Carpenter bees can be pesky critters, but dealing with them is easier than it seems. Keep bees at bay, and keep your home and loved ones safe by heading off these pests as soon as they rear their little heads