What kind of wood do carpenter bees like?

Why Carpenter Bees Target Certain Woods

Carpenter bees aren’t just flying around randomly looking for trouble. They’re picky builders. The females seek out untreated, soft, and weathered wood that’s easy to bore into and carve tunnels for nesting. They don’t eat the wood like termites — they just excavate it.

Here’s what draws them in:

• Softwoods: Pine, cedar, redwood, cypress, and fir are all prime real estate.

• Weathered surfaces: Aged or sun-worn wood is much easier for them to tunnel through.

• Unpainted wood: Bees prefer bare, unfinished wood since painted or sealed surfaces make digging difficult.

If your porch, eaves, siding, or outdoor furniture fits that description, it’s basically an open invitation for carpenter bees.

The Woods Carpenter Bees Like Most

While carpenter bees can technically bore into many types of wood, they definitely have favorites. Here’s a quick look at what they go after most often:

If you’ve got pine trim, cedar decks, or redwood pergolas, there’s a good chance they’ll catch the bees’ attention as nesting season rolls around.

What About Hardwoods?

Hardwoods like oak, maple, and walnut aren’t a carpenter bees first choice. The dense fibers take more effort to drill into, and the bees are efficient creatures — they’ll usually pick a softer, faster option if it’s available.

That said, if all the softwood options nearby are painted or sealed, they might test a hardwood beam just to see if they can get through it. They can be persistent when nesting instinct kicks in.

Why Do They Choose the Same Spot Every Year?

One of the most frustrating things for homeowners is watching carpenter bees come back to the same deck or beam every spring. It’s not your imagination — they do return. Females often reuse old tunnels or build new ones right beside them.

Why? Because the old holes mean less work. Plus, carpenter bees are territorial, and if they’ve nested successfully before, that spot already “smells right.” Without deterrents or traps in place, they’ll keep coming back like clockwork.

Spotting the Early Signs of a Carpenter Bee Problem

You don’t have to wait until you see a cloud of bees hovering around your deck to take action. A few subtle signs often appear first:

• Perfectly round holes about the size of a dime

• Piles of sawdust beneath beams, rafters, or railings

• Yellow stains (bee waste) near the entrance holes

• Buzzing near sunny, south-facing wood surfaces

Catching it early makes it easier to prevent larger infestations — and less costly to repair the damage.

How to Make Wood Less Appealing to Carpenter Bees

There’s no magic paint that bees hate, but a few simple steps can make your wood less tempting:

1. Seal and stain regularly. A high-quality sealant can make it harder for bees to chew into the surface.

2. Replace untreated lumber. If you’ve got exposed pine, swap it for pressure-treated wood when possible.

3. Fill old holes. Carpenter bees will reuse or expand old tunnels. Plug them with wood filler and repaint.

4. Use traps early in the season. The moment spring hits, bee traps can stop nesting before it starts.

When combined, these tactics help break the cycle of return visits.

Why Bee Traps Work (When Done Right)

Carpenter bee traps mimic the bees’ natural nesting instincts. They enter through a drilled hole thinking it’s a safe place to burrow, but once inside, the angled chamber and light source confuse them — they can’t escape.

The key is using traps built with proper dimensions and entrances designed to attract carpenter bees specifically. Generic “bee catchers” often don’t cut it.

That’s why the Bees N Things carpenter bee traps have become so popular. They’re tested, effective, and built to last through seasons of use. Whether you need one trap for a small porch or a full carpenter bee trap kit for larger properties, these designs are proven to drastically reduce activity around your home.

Where to Hang Carpenter Bee Traps

Proper placement makes a big difference. Carpenter bees usually prefer sunny spots and start nesting high up under overhangs or near rooflines.

Good trap locations include:

• Under eaves and soffits

• Around deck railings and posts

• Near old nesting sites or existing holes

• Around sheds, barns, and pergolas

Hang traps before peak season (typically March through May in warmer areas) to catch scouting females before they start drilling.

What Happens After You Catch Them

Once carpenter bees enter a trap, they can’t get out. Over time, the scent of previous bees inside the trap actually makes it more attractive to new ones. That’s why it’s a good idea not to empty traps too frequently during active months — they’ll continue working better as they age.

By late summer, the population naturally declines, and you can clean out or replace trap chambers before the next season. Keeping traps in place year-round ensures returning bees find the trap first instead of your freshly repaired wood.

Are Carpenter Bee Traps Safe for Other Pollinators?

Yes. Honeybees and bumblebees rarely go near the same wood structures carpenter bees target. The trap entrances are designed to mimic carpenter bee tunnels — other pollinators don’t find them interesting. So you can protect your property without harming the good bees your garden relies on.

What to Expect When You Start Using Bees N Things Traps

Most homeowners start seeing results within a few days. You’ll notice fewer bees hovering and less fresh sawdust appearing under wood beams. Over a few weeks, the traps capture enough adults to break the nesting cycle completely.

When used year after year, the effect compounds. Your deck, fence, and trim stay intact, and you stop dealing with buzzing battles every spring.

If you’re unsure where to start, our Bee Trap Kits include everything you need — multiple traps, mounting hardware, and easy instructions. The kits are perfect for larger areas or anyone dealing with recurring infestations.

Ready to Protect Your Home?

Carpenter bees love untreated softwood — but that doesn’t mean they have to love yours. Knowing what attracts them is the first step. The next step is using proven prevention tools that actually work.

Explore the full line of Bees N Things carpenter bee traps and kits — built by bee experts and trusted by homeowners across the country.

Each trap is crafted for maximum effectiveness and designed to blend in with your outdoor spaces while quietly solving your bee problem for good.

Keep your home protected. Stop carpenter bees before they start drilling. Find the right bee traps for sale today at BeesNThings.com