How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees

The best way to get rid of carpenter bees is to combine direct treatment of the bees with prevention measures that stop them from returning. Carpenter bees drill into wood to create nesting galleries, and while they don’t eat wood like termites, their tunneling can cause costly structural damage over time. Here’s the most effective approach to get rid of carpenter bees:

Locate the Nesting Holes: Look for perfectly round, dime-sized entry holes on wooden surfaces such as decks, eaves, fascia boards, fences, or siding. You may also see sawdust (frass) or yellowish pollen stains below the holes.
Apply an Insecticidal Dust: At dusk, when bees are less active, apply a residual insecticidal dust directly into the holes using a duster. Dust penetrates deeper into the tunnels than sprays, ensuring the bees come into contact with it as they move. Leave the tunnels open for a few days to let bees track the product inside.
Plug and Seal the Holes: Once you’re sure the bees are gone (generally 3–5 days after treatment), seal the holes with wood putty, caulk, or dowels. If you seal too early, trapped bees may bore new exits, causing even more damage.
Paint or Stain Wood Surfaces: Carpenter bees prefer untreated, weathered, or softwoods. Painting or staining wood (not just clear sealing) makes it less attractive.
Install Physical Barriers or Use Treated Wood: Metal flashing, vinyl siding, or hardwood replacements in high-risk areas can deter future nesting.
Use Carpenter Bee Traps (Optional): Carpenter bee traps can capture adult carpenter bees, but they work best as a supplement to dusting and sealing, not as a standalone control measure.
Call Our Professionals If The Problem Is Severe: If you have extensive damage, multiple nesting sites, or repeated infestations, our professional pest control technicians can apply specialized treatments and help with long-term prevention.

Carpenter bees are pollinators. Whenever possible, use targeted treatments rather than broad spraying to reduce harm to beneficial species.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees

Our professional pest control is the best way to get rid of carpenter bees because these bees require a precise, targeted approach to ensure both the adult bees and their nesting sites are fully eliminated. While carpenter bees may appear harmless, they can cause significant structural damage to wooden areas around homes, decks, and buildings if left untreated. Here’s why our professional pest control is the most effective solution:

Accurate Identification and Inspection: Carpenter bees are often mistaken for bumblebees, but our professionals can accurately identify the species and locate all active nesting sites. Our pest control technicians perform a thorough inspection to find not just the visible holes, but also the hidden galleries where eggs and larvae are developing.
Safe and Effective Treatment: DIY sprays or dusts are often applied incorrectly or too late in the bee’s life cycle to be effective. Our professionals use specialized insecticidal dusts and residual treatments designed specifically for carpenter bees. These products are applied deep into the nesting holes, reaching larvae and adult bees while minimizing risk to humans, pets, and beneficial pollinators.
Prevention of Structural Damage: Carpenter bees drill perfectly round holes into untreated or unpainted wood, weakening decks, eaves, railings, and fascia boards. Our pest control professionals not only remove existing infestations but can also apply protective coatings and deterrents that prevent reinfestation and further damage.
Expert Sealing and Exclusion: After treatment, our professionals can seal the entry holes at the correct time—once the bees are gone and larvae have been treated. Improper sealing can trap bees inside, forcing them to bore new tunnels and worsen the damage. Our pest experts ensure each hole is sealed properly to prevent new bees from reusing the same sites.
Long-Term Prevention and Maintenance: Carpenter bees are highly persistent. Our professional pest control technicians provide ongoing maintenance plans and seasonal inspections to protect your property year after year. We may also recommend or apply finishes and treatments to make wood surfaces less attractive to nesting bees.
Safety and Liability Protection: Treating carpenter bees can require accessing high areas or wooden structures where ladders and chemicals are involved. Our professionals are trained, licensed, and insured to handle these situations safely, reducing risk to homeowners.

Our professional pest control offers complete, lasting, and safe elimination of carpenter bees, along with preventive strategies to protect your property from future infestations. Attempting DIY methods may only address the surface problem, leaving hidden larvae or untreated galleries that allow the bees to return season after season.