treatment for carpenter bees

[Jay-n-123]

Condo management sent exterminator who applied some type of dust underath brown wood trim on lower level. She did not treat upper level due to a screen being in the way (which is no longer properly installed).

Exterminator recommended filling the gaps on lower level with plastic cleaning pads (kind that resembles steel wool but made of plastic. She said a screen would also work.

For upper level exterminator recommended removal of the screen and treatment and then filling the gaps or putting up a screen.

Condo management is talking about addressing the gaps, but seem to have ignored the fact that upper level wasn't yet treated with any dust. Would addressing the gaps on upper level (either by stuffing or installing screen) be effective even if the area that wasn't yet treated with dust? Or would it cause trapped bees to try and bore their way out (or bore their into building..yikes!)

Thanks.

Jeff

[Paul Franklin]

If you fill in the holes without killing the bees, they'll usually just tunnel out somewhere else.

What works pretty well for me is to dust the holes, then wait a few days for the dust to be carried into the channels by the bees so all are killed, and then block the holes. I've used corks, wood putty, and urethane caulk. All seem to work ok. Then I paint, which is supposed to discourage further infestation, but isn't perfect. When I have time and $$, the cedar is coming down and plastic or fiber-cement is going up. between the bees, wasps, and downy woodpeckers, I've had enough with cedar siding.

HTH,

Paul