All creatures should be given the option to be annoying, dangerous, or destructive. No single animal should be allowed to be all three of these things. It just isn’t fair, but regardless, it happens all the time. One creature that lives in our area and is all three of these things is the carpenter bee. This invasive insect is the penultimate pest problem. To help you understand how much of a problem they are, here are some things you should know, including some tips and tricks to keep carpenter bees away from your Fort Worth property.
What Are Carpenter Bees?
Most people have a hard time understanding carpenter bees because they are not like traditional bees. They do not live in large nests, they do not produce honey, and they tend to stick to themselves. The only similarities carpenter bees have to honey bees is that they have similar anatomy and are active pollinators. This act of pollination makes these pests beneficial insects. Unfortunately, this is just about the only good thing they do around properties.
Where Do Carpenter Bees Live?
Carpenters use wood to construct homes. Carpenter bees tunnel into wood to build their nests. The tunnels these pests create are roughly ¼ of an inch wide and can be several inches deep. Female carpenter bees drill into wood until there is enough room for four to six egg chambers. These chambers are constructed using gathered pollen and host a single egg each. These eggs take a few days to hatch. Once hatched, grubs emerge and feed on the pollen surrounding their chamber for a few weeks until they are ready to pupate and change into adult bees.
How Dangerous Are Carpenter Bees?
The good news is that carpenter bees are one of the least aggressive species of stinging insects. These plump pests do not have a hive to protect and are not easily made angry. If you do manage to anger one of these pests to the point where you get stung, expect a small amount of pain around the affected area. On occasion, carpenter bees will lose their stingers after attacking. If this happens to you, use your fingernails to carefully scrape it off.
If you experience more severe reactions after being stung, you may be allergic to insect venom. To find out if you are allergic, consult with your doctor. They will perform the needed tests to find out for certain and recommend treatment options such as an EpiPen if you are stung.
The Destruction Caused By Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bee tunnels are not just unsightly, they are also extremely destructive. The more tunnels carpenter bees create within a structure of wood, the weaker it becomes. If left unaddressed, this damage will grow. Tunnels will connect with one another, exterior damage will become more unsightly, and more serious structural issues will present themselves. The only way to stop this and save yourself from a hefty repair bill is to take preemptive steps to deter these pests in the first place.
What To Do About The Carpenter Bees On Your Property
If you start to notice holes tunneled into structural wood around your property or furry yellow bees with smooth black abdomens buzzing around, your property could be infested with carpenter bees. To have these annoying, dangerous, and destructive pests removed, get the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite to help with our stinging insect control service. We have the tools and expertise needed to handle these pests and can point you in the right direction to prevent carpenter bees from invading your Fort Worth property in the future. Call us today for more details.