Spring has sprung which means you might have started hearing some buzzing around your yard. You might start to get worried that these buzzing creatures are out to get you. Many of us might not have had the best track record with bees in the past. But which bees should we worry about?
Carpenter bees are likely to be one of the bees buzzing around right now. They are big, yellow, and black bees that are often mistaken for bumblebees. They can seem super scary to a lot of people. But they are not likely to be bothered by you.
So what are they doing around your home? What do you need to do to stay safe from them? Here’s what you need to know about carpenter bees.
All Bees Are Not Created Equal!
When it comes to bees, there are two types. Social bees and non-social bees; and we aren’t talking about whether they meet up for coffee dates and what-not. We are referring to whether or not they are hive-dwelling.
A social bee is a hive-dwelling bee and that means that they have something to protect. This means that they are going to protect that hive like nobody’s business. If you get anywhere near their nest, they are going to attack. Not fun stuff at all! Social bees are going to be bees like honey bees and wasps.
Non-social bees are the complete opposite. Non-social bees don’t have a hive to protect. They are just going about their life, doing their own thing. They are not going to view you as a threat at all, carpenter bees are non-social.
Do Carpenter Bees Sting at All?
So if they are non-social and aren’t protecting anything does that mean that they won’t ever sting you? Well, technically they can physically. They have all the body parts that make them able to sting someone just like their social counterparts.
However, they are not very likely at all to sting you. They don’t sting even as a defense. You aren’t even likely to get stung if you step on them. We haven’t personally known anyone to get stung by a carpenter bee but it could theoretically happen.
What if You Do Get Stung?
If you happen to be unlucky enough to get stung by one of these bees the reaction will likely be similar to any other sting you’ve received. It will hurt and it may burn at the sight of the sting for a few days. The only major concern would be allergies.
If you are allergic to a carpenter bee you will know right away that you are. You would notice the reaction to the bee sting within 15 minutes. If this happens get immediate medical attention.
If you happen to get stung and you don’t notice any reaction by the time the 15-minute mark passes, the affected area will just go away on its own.
What Do Carpenter Bees Do?
You aren’t seeing carpenter bees out protecting a hive making anyone nervous to get stung, so where are they hanging out? Well, instead of a hive, carpenter bees drill holes into untreated wood and live there. They even will lay their eggs inside the wood. Eventually, the eggs will hatch and you will have a bunch of carpenter bee larvae inside this wood.
Many people are worried that carpenter bees can damage their homes, but usually, the siding on your home is cosmetic and they don’t tend to go deeper than that. It won’t cause structural damage as a termite would. However, the damage they can cause isn’t pretty, so if you’re not a fan of holes in your siding they will not be welcome guests.
Since they drill holes in untreated wood, if you have wood or cedar siding like in sheds, barns, and things of that nature, they will target those. They will also go after wood fencing as well. Reducing the amount of untreated wood around your home is going to protect you against carpenter bees.
Should You Treat For Carpenter Bees?
Carpenter bees are not a huge threat to you. But, if you start to see carpenter bees around your home and they become a huge nuisance, then you should treat them.
Many people don’t like the small amount of damage they cause to the wood around their homes and can’t reduce the amount of untreated wood that is there. And sometimes we have clients that are may have members of the household that are allergic. If this sounds like you then it may be time to call your local pest control company to treat.
If carpenter bees buzzing around are just too much for you, Kapture is here to help. We provide a protection plan where we treat your yard every 3 months. You can give us a call anytime, we offer FREE phone consultations.
Contact Kapture for a No-Obligation Phone Consultation and Quote:
Call 1-888-811-5813 or schedule online now to start protecting your home and family today!
