When you see one small half inch round holes in your wooden structure or wooden furniture, you can be sure you are under attack. It is the carpenter bee – and if there is one, there are many more lining up behind it! Don’t waste time and get ready to eradicate wood bees from your premises and save your house. Of course, you can use store-bought repellents, but they are full of harmful chemicals. They are a big no-no for households which have small children and pets. The answers to all your dismal doubts and questions on how to control wood bees are surprisingly simple. So here is a list of home remedies to get rid of carpenter bees!
Why are the carpenter bees attacking your wood structures?
- Carpenter bees don’t eat the wood – they bore holes into wood to make nesting areas.
- If you have wooden structures in your home, then you may be in danger of being targeted by these.
- If you have dense growth of flowering plants around your house, then there is a greater if chance of a carpenter bees infestation.
How to get rid of carpenter bees – Some easy and effective remedies to control carpenter bees
1. Almond oil
If you see holes in wooden structures, pour some almond oil or almond essence into them. Wood bees can not tolerate the smell of almond oil. This method will work for 3-4 weeks – check to make sure that all the bees have been driven away using a flashlight.
2. Vacuum cleaner
This is a very easy method of getting rid wood boring bees, especially if it is a new nest. Grab the smallest nozzle of your vacuum cleaner and turn to the strong vacuuming option. Be sure to do this in the evening, because that is when all the bees stay home. Put the nozzle into the holes and suck them all out – check that there aren’t any left in the holes.
3. Boric acid powder
Boric powder usually repel all kinds insects – they work on carpenter bees as well. Sprinkle some boric powder around and in the holes to drive the bees away. Spraying boric acid into the holes will also kill the bee larvae effectively to prevent a future population from growing. This method has a high 86% rate of success!
4. Noise
Bees get agitated by loud sounds – you can use this fact to get rid of them easily and without much hard work. Set up a source of noise near the holes, like a loud speaker and turn on the volume. The bees will fly away – but be sure to inform your neighbors first, to avoid complaints!
5. Cover the holes
With this method you will be sealing the bees in, instead of getting them out. Simply cover the holes with caulk or putty and paint it over nicely. The bees cannot burrow their out once they are trapped – no need to painstakingly get every bee out of the holes! For best results, you can use steel wool for filling in the holes.
6. Badminton rackets
You can get physical and let out all your anger against the bees by using this method. If you are more of an aggressive kind of person, pick up a badminton racket and get smashing those bees that are ruining on your good wood!
7. Petrol
To kill carpenter bees, spray petrol or diesel into the holes. Use a spray can or bottle and make sure you only use it for petrol in future. Also wear protective gloves, respirator and goggles to avoid accidents.
8. Vinyl siding
In order to avoid carpenter bees from attacking your house altogether, you might consider installing vinyl sidings in your home. Vinyl being non-wooden cannot be attacked by wood bees. You can also use aluminum siding – even though these options are more expensive than wood, they will save you time, money and worry in the long run!
9. Citrus spray
This is a homemade mixture that you can make to drive away wood bees – all insects are repelled by citrus oil. Instead of paying money to buy a citrus spray, you can make your own easily at home. Take a pot and boil water in it. Cut up any citrus fruit, like lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc. and boil it in the water till it is reduced to one-third its volume. Fill the mixture in a spray bottle and spray it into the holes in the wood to get rid of the pests.
10. Diatomaceous earth
This is a naturally occurring earth that contains fossilized remains of diatoms and widely used as an insecticide. Wear gloves for protection and fill the holes made by the bees with some diatomaceous earth. Then cover it up with some putty. For extra protection paint it over. This earth has microscopic sharp edges which cut through the exoskeleton of the bees and kill them.
11. Wood to use for building
Use hardwood while building your house like maple and oak, as carpenter bees prefer softwood, for example pine. Also use treated lumber or paint the wooden structures – wood bees prefer untreated and unpainted softwood.
12. Natural spray repellent
Make this natural bee repellent and spray it into the holes to get rid of the wood bees. Mix together a few essential oils – 1/8 ounce each of tea-tree oil, jojoba oil, pennyroyal oil, ½ ounce citronella oil and ¼ ounce lavender oil – and pour them into a dark glass bottle. Pour 16 ounces of pure vodka into the bottle and mix it around. Use a spray nozzle on the bottle.
13. Pyrethrins
Pyrethrins are natural insecticides – they are organic compounds derived from chrysanthemums. You can spray them in the holes burrowed by the wood bees to drive them out – pyrethrins being neuro-disruptive toxins will kill the bees. The spray will stay effective for a week and then will safely biodegrade.
14. Homemade spray repellent
Soak a few cloves of garlic in cooking oil for a few days. Add cheap white vinegar (the cheaper the more acidic) to it, and spray the mixture in and around the holes. Apply another spray if the number of bees doesn’t reduce in a few days.
15. Garlic
Garlic has lethal effect on bees. Pour garlic powder directly into the holes in the wood to kill the carpenter bees.
16. Citronella candles
Citronella repels insects, including bees. Burning citronella candles inside the house will prevent carpenter bee infestations pretty effectively.
Now, that you know the simplest homemade ‘How to kill carpenter bees’ answers, let’s learn some precautions.
Some precautions to keep in mind
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- Protect the wooden structure of your home by keeping paint in a good condition. Wood-boring bees won’t bother perfectly painted wood – simple stain and varnish won’t do. Polyurethane paints are recommended to be the best against the bees.
- Always wear protective clothing and wear netted masks to prevent bee stings while handling the wood bees.
- Most bees come back to nest in holes they burrowed in the previous season. Once the bees are out of the holes, be sure to fill them up with putty or caulk and paint it over to prevent a future infestation.
- Make a natural insect bite spray to apply on your skin, in case you get stung. Secret tip: you can also soothe the sting by applying a dab of toothpaste!
