Spring is here, and with it comes the buzz of bees — but not all bees are welcome guests. While honeybees, mason bees and bumblebees are usually beneficial pollinators, carpenter bees can become a real nuisance if they decide your home is their new construction site. Unlike termites, carpenter bees don’t eat wood — but they do drill larger perfectly round holes into it to create nests, and over time this can cause significant structural damage.
If you’ve spotted large, solitary bees hovering around your deck, eaves, or wooden siding, you may be dealing with carpenter bees. Here’s how to identify them and what you can do to send them packing — for good.
Spotting the Signs of Carpenter Bee Activity
Before you repel them, confirm you're dealing with carpenter bees. Here are the telltale signs:
- Perfectly round holes about 1/2 inch in diameter in exposed wood
- Sawdust or “frass” (a mix of wood shavings and bee droppings) beneath the holes
- Buzzing or hovering bees, especially near your roofline or deck railings
- Yellowish stains around entry holes
Carpenter bees prefer untreated, unpainted, or weathered wood. They often target soffits, fascia boards, decks, and wooden siding.
1. Paint or Stain Exposed Wood
One of the simplest prevention methods is to paint or stain your wood surfaces. Carpenter bees are much less likely to bore into treated wood. Thick coats of polyurethane or oil-based paint work best. Even staining is better than bare wood, though it’s slightly less effective.
2. Use Repellent Sprays
Donaldson Farms Carpenter Bee Repellent offers an eco-friendly solution to protect your outdoor wooden structures from carpenter bee damage. Formulated with natural ingredients this non-toxic spray effectively deters carpenter bees without the use of harmful chemicals. It's safe for use on various wooden surfaces, including decks, porches, fences, and garden furniture. This repellent provides a straightforward and environmentally conscious approach to safeguarding your home against these wood-boring pests.
3. Seal Abandoned Holes
Once bees leave a nest (usually in late fall), you can seal holes with specially design Donaldson Farms Carpenter Bees Corks. (Pro tip: First, spray out existing carpenter bee holes with a carpenter bee killer to prevent the bees from returning or chewing their way out.)
4. Swap Out Wood for Alternatives
If the bees won’t leave your deck alone, consider replacing wood with composite materials or treated lumber. These options are far less appealing to carpenter bees.
Final Thoughts
Carpenter bees can be a pain — literally and figuratively — but they don’t have to take over your home. A mix of repellents, deterrents, and preventive maintenance can go a long way in keeping these buzzing builders at bay. The earlier you take action, the better your chances of avoiding damage.
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