Not certain what type of bees you have (are you sure they are not an Africanized variety) I had a colony of honey bees establish a hive in a spot between the eaves and chimney. Needed to get a 32' ladder and a bee keeper to remove them. The honey bee is protected and should not be destroyed. Joe G
Do you mean carpenter bees? They look like bumble bees but bore into wood and are quite obnoxious. I've had them but don't know how to get rid of all of them, but individually I can tell you they don't like taking on the gas powered string trimmer - sends them flying. Good luck.
I get the carpenter bees every spring. I've found 2 things that work. First squirt the holes they make with wasp/hornet spray. Second, when they are mating they hover. I take a badmitten raquet and play beemitten. Slower than spraying but more fun.
Fill in the holes and then take a fine mesh screen and cover the wood areas that are exposed. They only like certain types of wood to build nests in, so give them a home of that type of wood elsewhere. They are very good pollenators and some greenhouses actually raise them to do just that.
We kept them out of a shed by putting beercans partly filled with sand and kerosene up into the soffetts. That wouldn't work out in the open. I don't know if it would work on carpenter bees.
There is one bee that swarms around the area and me too, a fake wasp nest would not do the trick as their nest are in the wood itself, the female bee drills holes in the wood, that is why they are also called wood bees.
I fill the holes with an acetone-based wood filler (available at the small chain hardware stores such as Ace Hardware and the like). I do this in the evening when they've settled in for the night. The result is that the acetone quickly kills them, the hole is filled, and if you color matched the surrounding wood, you're left with some minor sanding when all is hardened.
I've trapped them inside their hole during the day ... their cell mate usually hangs around but doesn't start a new hole (usually) ... that's when the tennis racket gets used.
Best thing I ever saw was one carpenter bee was staying JUST out of reach of my garden hose ... hovering over the house roof, when a swallow came swooping down from behind and scooped the bee out of mid-air. Gotta love the food chain.
Fill those holes with the acetone-based putty and you'll be happy. It's amazing just how many holes a few bees will make ... snuff 'em early and you're done for the summer.
I had Carpenter Bees in my cedar sided house. the stuff I got from
formatting link
took care of them in a hurry! This site also has a wealth of good advise and information. Be advised that carpenter bee males, make all the fuss and noise but can't sting. Females are more docile, and less threatening but will sting if strongly provaked. Since the chemical has to be sprayed on and in the holes they make, a ladder is necessary and the males will probably buzz around. But they can't hurt. This stuff will last nearly all season and if preventive measures are taken after applying, the bees won't return. Good luck...
Agreed - I had wondered what all the fuss was about. If they're drilling holes where you don't want them, make up some bee boards for them. Do a Google.
We have one or two that nest in a beam just above our front door every year. They seem to re-use the same holes. Fun to watch and never a problem. If I thought they would sting I'd get rid of them as my wife is allergic to stings.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.