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:

Identify Active Carpenter Bee Sites: Carefully inspect wooden structures such as eaves, decks, fences, siding, and wooden trim. Active carpenter bee holes are typically perfectly round, about ½ inch in diameter, often accompanied by yellowish sawdust (“frass”) beneath the entrance. Distinguishing active from old infestations is crucial before treatment.
Time Treatments Appropriately: The most effective time to target carpenter bees is early spring when males emerge and females begin nesting. Females bore into wood to lay eggs, so addressing them at this stage prevents colony expansion. Late summer or fall can also work for treating remaining bees before overwintering.
Use Insecticidal Dust in Nests: Apply a residual insecticidal dust specifically labeled for carpenter bees, such as those containing carbaryl, deltamethrin, or boric acid. Wearing protective gloves and a dust mask, carefully puff dust into each hole using a small duster or syringe. This ensures the chemical reaches deep into the tunnels where the female lays eggs.
Seal Holes After Treatment: After confirming bees have died—usually a few days post-treatment—seal the holes with wood putty, caulk, or a similar durable filler. Covering the entry prevents re-infestation and signals to other carpenter bees that the site is no longer viable.
Apply Preventive Wood Treatments: To deter future infestations, treat exposed wood with a high-quality wood preservative, stain, or exterior paint. Carpenter bees prefer untreated or weathered wood, so finishing surfaces creates a barrier that reduces nesting opportunities. Light-colored finishes are especially discouraging, as bees favor darker wood.
Install Physical Deterrents: Metal or PVC tubes covering wooden surfaces, or netting on vulnerable eaves, can prevent bees from accessing preferred drilling sites.
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.
Maintain Vigilant Monitoring: After initial removal, routinely inspect structures for new holes, frass, or visible bees. Early detection allows rapid treatment before colonies establish, reducing long-term structural damage.
Optional Natural Deterrents: If chemical use is undesirable, carpenter bees can be discouraged with natural deterrents like citrus oil, almond oil, or neem-based sprays applied to wood surfaces. While less immediately lethal, these substances create an unpleasant environment and can reduce nesting frequency over time.

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

How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees Fast

Inject Residual Insecticidal Dust Directly Into Each Gallery: Delivering a labeled dust—such as one containing deltamethrin, carbaryl, or boric acid—straight into every entrance hole remains the single fastest method. Dust moves through the tunnel system, contacts the adult female, and contaminates larvae and returning bees. This approach acts quickly and continues working for weeks.
Use a Power Duster for Deep Penetration: A hand-puffer works, but a small power duster pushes dust farther into long galleries. Many nests run several inches deep before turning at a 90-degree angle. Stronger penetration ensures immediate exposure and faster mortality.
Follow Up With a Residual Liquid Application on the Wood Surface: After dusting, treating the surrounding wood with a residual liquid insecticide labeled for carpenter bees creates an active barrier. Bees that land, explore, or attempt to drill into the treated area receive a lethal dose almost immediately, accelerating overall knockdown.
Use Carpenter Bee Traps Along High-Activity Areas: While traps alone aren’t a complete solution, combining them with dusting and residuals speeds results. Males—highly territorial and constantly patrolling—enter traps readily, reducing mating pressure and lowering active movement within 24–48 hours.
Return After 2–3 Days to Seal All Treated Holes: Once the dust has circulated and active bees are eliminated, sealing galleries halts re-entry. This quickly interrupts any remaining cycles and prevents new females from discovering the pre-made tunnels, ensuring rapid resolution.
Target the Correct Time of Day for Fastest Impact: Treating in the evening, when females are inside the galleries and males are less active, maximizes exposure. A single well-timed dusting session at night can knock down the majority of the population almost immediately.

How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees Permanently

Eliminate Active Galleries With Residual Dust: Long-term success starts with fully treating every active hole using a residual dust labeled for carpenter bees. Dust reaches deep galleries and kills adults, larvae, and any returning bees. Thorough gallery treatment prevents surviving females from reusing the same tunnel system in future seasons.
Seal All Treated Holes Using Durable Wood Fillers: After the dust has had several days to circulate, sealing every hole with wood putty, caulk, or wooden dowels permanently removes the nesting site. Carpenter bees are strongly attracted to pre-existing tunnels; sealing eliminates their most valuable resource and blocks the behavior cycle that causes recurring infestations.
Re-Finish Exposed Wood With a High-Quality Protective Coating: Carpenter bees overwhelmingly prefer bare or weathered wood. Applying exterior-grade paint, solid stain, or a wood preservative creates an unappealing surface and greatly reduces the chance of reinfestation. Painted surfaces offer the strongest protection, followed by solid stains, with clear finishes being less effective.
Install Structural Deterrents in Vulnerable Areas: Adding metal flashing, vinyl trim, or composite fascia boards over frequently targeted spots creates permanent physical barriers. Carpenter bees cannot bore into these materials, and substituting them for soft woods such as pine or cedar significantly reduces future risk.
Use Ongoing Seasonal Prevention Treatments: Applying a residual insecticide to vulnerable wood in early spring—right before nesting begins—creates an exterior defense that discourages new drilling. Reapplying once or twice per season, depending on weather exposure, adds a long-term protective layer that closes the yearly breeding window.
Remove or Replace Severely Damaged Wood: If bees have colonized the same structural area for years, old galleries can be extensive and difficult to treat completely. Replacing heavily tunneled wood with pressure-treated lumber or composite materials removes long-standing attractants and minimizes future activity.
Maintain Routine Monitoring and Rapid Response: Even after permanent-level prevention is installed, inspecting for new holes each spring ensures that early attempts at recolonization are addressed immediately. Catching a new drill hole in the first day or two makes long-term recurrence highly unlikely.

How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees Naturally

Use Vacuum Extraction for Immediate Removal: A shop vacuum fitted with a narrow nozzle can pull out adults when they are active around the hole. This works best during warm daylight hours when bees are flying. It does not reach larvae but can dramatically reduce the visible population without chemicals.
Apply Boric Acid Dust Into Active Galleries: Although naturally occurring, boric acid works as a slow-acting stomach poison and desiccant. When puffed into carpenter bee tunnels, it reaches larvae and adults, gradually eliminating the colony. It is the closest thing to a “natural” dust that still delivers true control.
Inject Diatomaceous Earth Into Tunnels: Food-grade diatomaceous earth scratches the waxy coating on insects, leading to dehydration. When blown into galleries, it coats internal surfaces and affects bees that contact it. It is slower than boric acid but safer for pets and plants.
Apply Strong Natural Repellent Oils on Wood Surfaces: Carpenter bees dislike certain essential oils—especially citrus, almond, tea tree, and eucalyptus. Spraying these oils on exposed wood or wiping them into new holes after treatment discourages further drilling. This helps deter returning bees but won’t clear an established gallery on its own.
Use Heat and Light to Disrupt Active Galleries: Direct, sustained heat from a heat gun (used cautiously to avoid damaging wood) can drive out bees and make tunnels uninhabitable. Bees retreat quickly when the gallery reaches uncomfortable temperatures. This works well on exterior trim and fascia boards.
Install and Maintain Non-Toxic Wooden Carpenter Bee Traps: These traps mimic the entrance of a nesting hole and funnel carpenter bees into a collection jar. When placed near high-activity areas, they steadily reduce the number of males and wandering females. They are most effective when combined with sealing old holes.
Seal Treated or Abandoned Galleries With Natural Fillers: After these bees leave or after using a natural treatment inside the hole, plugging the gallery with wood dowels or natural putty prevents reinfestation. Since carpenter bees instinctively return to old tunnels, sealing is one of the most important steps for long-term success.
Refinish Wood With Natural Oils or Stains: Carpenter bees are drawn to weathered, soft, or untreated wood. Coating surfaces with linseed oil, tung oil, or a natural resin-based stain reduces the attractiveness of the wood. While not as strong a deterrent as paint, it provides a natural protective barrier that lowers future activity.

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.

Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees With Miche Pest Control

Hiring our team of professionals at Miche Pest Control is an investment in long-term protection, expertise, and peace of mind. Here’s why:

Personalized Service and Local Expertise: We know the specific pest pressures in the area. Our technicians understand the environment, climate, and building types common to the area, allowing them to provide targeted, effective treatments.
High-Quality, Comprehensive Solutions: As a full-service provider, we don’t just treat surface problems; we address the root causes. From inspections and prevention to exclusion and ongoing maintenance, we deliver complete, integrated pest management (IPM) programs designed to both eliminate infestations and prevent future ones.
Accountability and Reliability: We live and die by our reputation. We rely on trust, referrals, and repeat business, meaning we're committed to doing the job right the first time and providing exceptional customer care.
Faster Response Times: We respond quickly to emergencies and schedule services sooner than large, national chains. Especially when you’re dealing with urgent pest issues, that speed matters.
Customized Treatment Plans: We tailor our services to your property’s specific needs instead of using one-size-fits-all chemical treatments. This results in safer, more effective pest control that minimizes environmental impact and reduces unnecessary pesticide use.
Highly Trained, Experienced Technicians: We invest in training, certification, and continuing education for our technicians. We stay current on the latest pest biology, control techniques, and safety standards.
Long-Term Prevention and Value: Our focus on providing quality service means fewer callbacks, longer-lasting protection, and better value over time. Instead of repeated, temporary fixes, you get strategic solutions that protect your home or business for the long run and provide better peace of mind.

Hiring our team means you get expertise you can trust, faster service, safer and more effective treatments, and long-term results that protect both your property and your peace of mind. Contact us today!