Best Bee Brothers Bee Blog — About Carpenter Bees

When you think of bees, images of a beehive teeming with honey might come to mind. But the reality is that most bees do not make honey or live in hives. In fact, 85% of the world’s bee population is made up of bees that do not live in hives or colonies. These creatures are also known as solitary bees. The most commonly known solitary bee is the mason bee.   Luckily, we can tell the difference between mason and carpenter bees because there are many physical and behavioral differences between the two. There are many different types of mason...

Have you ever wondered about the brownish stains near carpenter bees’ nests? This unsightly stain is carpenter bee poop. Unfortunately, this unsightly stain is from carpenter bee droppings – to be blunt, carpenter bee poop. These stains are just another reason to treat those nests and prevent future carpenter bees from invading your home! Carpenter bees like to keep a clean nest. In order to do that, the females dig tunnels using their mandibles to vibrate against the wood grain to carve out small granules that resemble sawdust. Then the bees push out their excretions and the wood shavings to...

Why Do Woodpeckers Peck on Houses? There are many reasons that woodpeckers may be pecking on your home or other wooden structures. They might be pecking to create a nesting cavity, looking for a mate, hunting for a meal, or even performing territorial drumming. Some signs for each of these can help you better understand why these woodpeckers are causing house damage. If they are creating larger holes, this means they are looking to create a nesting cavity to store nuts and other items. This may not be the worst option as they are more gentle and meticulous when building...

The majority of the bee population in the United States falls into the “solitary bee” category. This includes mason bees, mining bees, carpenter bees, digger bees and several others. Many, but not all solitary bees are harmless. Some can be efficient pollinators, and others can be a real problem. Carpenter Bee Argument Some solitary bees, such as the carpenter bee, can become a real nuisance to have in your backyard. They drill holes into porches, decks, or anywhere on your property that may have dead wood. Many people will argue that carpenter bees are not the pollinator others in the...

Do Wood Bees Sting? The simple answer is yes. Carpenter bees, sometimes called wood bees, sting. Female carpenter bees can sting; however, they are unlikely to do so. Speaking from experience, it can be quite painful! However, this painful defense is only given to the female carpenter bees -- often described as ‘wood bees’ by some. Since the male’s main duty is to protect the nest while the female builds it, you are more likely to interact with male carpenter bees. Ironically, as the protector, the male bee is not equipped with a stinger. Instead, he uses his substantial frame to...