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Carpenter Bees, Not Bumblebees, Drill Holes in Wood

A reader asks how bumblebees produce holes in wood. Jack DeAngelis clarifies: the culprits are carpenter bees, which resemble bumblebees but have shiny, hairless abdomens. Carpenter bees excavate nests in untreated wood, causing cosmetic and structural damage over time.

Prevention and Control

Paint or stain all exposed wood surfaces.
Fill existing holes with wood putty and repaint.
Insecticidal dust (e.g., carbaryl) applied into active tunnels in spring can kill bees.
Provide alternative nesting sites (bee houses) away from structures.

More details: Carpenter bee control.

Pests: Carpenter Bee Damage to Cedar Fascia: Cover, Don't Replace; Bees Swarming Garden Pond: Likely Honeybee Swarm Seeking Water; Ground Nest of Yellowjackets: Urgent Treatment for Allergy Safety; Honey Bees in Honey Locust Tree: Call a Beekeeper; Managing Carpenter Bees in Wood Siding Organically; Bees Swarming Cotoneaster: Trapping, Not Spraying; Carpenter Bees Hovering at Porch: Identification and Management; Bumble Bees on Porch: Trapping for Relocation; Small Bumblebees in Birdhouses: Native Pollinators, Not Pests; Beekeeping Workshops: Basics & Hands-On Hive Management

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