10 ways to keep carpenter bees away and protect your home
As someone who loves gardening and cherishes the simple joys of homesteading, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with carpenter bees.
While these bees are incredible pollinators and do wonders for our gardens, they can cause serious damage to untreated wood, outdoor furniture, and wooden structures around your home.
Let’s look at 10 ways to keep carpenter bees away and protect your home. Here are some practical, homestead-friendly ways to tackle a carpenter bee infestation while considering the earth, too.
Properly Identifying Carpenter Bees
Before taking any action, it’s important to confirm that you’re dealing with carpenter bees. There are a LOT of different kinds of bees in the world.
These bees are often mistaken for bumble bees due to their similar size and appearance, but there are a few key differences.
Carpenter bees have a shiny, black abdomen, whereas bumble bees have a fuzzy, yellow-and-black-striped body.
You’ll often see female carpenter bees hovering near wooden surfaces, searching for a place to drill their nests.
If you spot small, perfectly round holes in wood along with piles of sawdust, that’s a sure sign of carpenter bee activity.
Identifying them correctly will help ensure you use the most effective methods to manage the problem.
What to Look (and Listen) For
Carpenter bees leave behind specific signs that make them easy to identify. Here’s what to watch for:
- Perfectly Round Holes: Carpenter bee nests begin as deep, nickel-sized holes expertly drilled into wood surfaces, often along eaves, decks, or furniture.
- Wood Shavings or Sawdust: You may notice small piles of sawdust, called frass, near the entrance of the holes—a clear sign of recent activity.
- Yellowish-Brown Staining: Carpenter bee poop often appears as streaks or stains beneath the nesting hole, making it another telltale sign.
- Faint Chewing Sounds: Listen closely near the wooden area in question. You might hear a soft chewing or scraping sound as the female carpenter bee tunnels through the wood.
- Hovering Males: Male carpenter bees are territorial and often hover around the entrance of the nest while the female works inside. Though they may seem intimidating, males cannot sting.
Spotting these signs early can help you address the carpenter bee problem before it causes significant damage.
Carpenter Bees: Friends or Foes?
Female carpenter bees might seem like troublemakers as they drill into wood surfaces to create their nests, but the good news is they’re not aggressive and rarely sting.
Like bumble bees, they’re excellent pollinators, helping our flowers, fruits, and vegetables thrive.
However, left unchecked, their carpenter bee nests can lead to structural problems over time, especially if you have soft wood or untreated wood around your home.
10 Ways to Keep Carpenter Bees away and Protect your Home
1. Seal Carpenter Bee Holes
Start by locating the carpenter bee holes. The best time to do this is in late summer, once the bees have vacated their nests.
Fill the holes with wood putty or a similar filler and then paint or varnish over the area to discourage them from returning.
2. Use Citrus Spray
One of the best ways to deter carpenter bees is with citrus spray. Here’s a simple recipe to make your own:
Ingredients:
- Peels from 2-3 citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, or limes)
- 2 cups of water
Instructions:
- Place the citrus peels in a small pot and cover them with water.
- Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Allow the mixture to cool completely.
- Strain the liquid into a spray bottle, discarding the peels.
- Spray it generously on wooden surfaces where bees tend to hover.
Reapply every few days or after rain for the best results.
3. Essential Oils for the Win
If you’re trying to keep carpenter bees away, a few essential oils work like a charm. Citrus oil is amazing—just boil some orange or lemon peels, and you’ve got a DIY solution that they can’t stand.
Almond oil is another good one; something about it totally throws them off.
I’ve also heard tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and lavender oil work great, too.
Just mix a few drops of whichever oil you like with water in a spray bottle, and spritz it on the wooden areas they like to hang around or even inside their holes.
You might need to reapply every few days or after it rains, but it’s such an easy and natural way to keep them away!
4. Install Carpenter Bee DEcoy nests
Decoy bee nests are a simple and effective way to deter carpenter bees from boring into your wood.
These fake nests mimic the appearance of a bee colony, tricking carpenter bees into thinking the area is already occupied.
To make a decoy, simply drill holes of varying sizes into a wooden block or log, mimicking the holes carpenter bees typically drill for nesting.
Hang the decoy in a location where the bees are prone to settle, such as near the eaves of your house or around wooden fences.
The carpenter bees will assume that another colony has already claimed the spot, and they’ll be less likely to drill into your wooden structures.
It’s a gentle, non-lethal solution to keeping your home safe from unwanted bee damage!
5. Paint or Varnish Wooden Surfaces
Bare wood is like an open invitation for carpenter bees. Protect your outdoor furniture and wooden structures by painting or varnishing them. This extra layer of protection makes the wood less appealing to the bees.
6. Try Diatomaceous Earth
If you’re looking for a natural way to keep carpenter bees at bay, try sprinkling some diatomaceous earth into their holes.
It’s completely safe for humans and pets but acts as a powerful repellent for insects.
The powder works by irritating their exoskeletons, making it uncomfortable for the bees without causing harm. It’s a simple, eco-friendly solution that can help protect your wood!
7. Play Loud Music
Here’s a fun tip: carpenter bees don’t like vibrations. Placing a speaker near their nests and playing loud music can encourage them to vacate the area. Who knew your playlist could help solve a carpenter bee problem?
8. Use Steel Wool as Barriers
Before sealing up any holes, pack them with steel wool. This adds an extra layer of protection and makes sure the bees can’t chew though it.
9. Replace Damaged Wood
If the infestation has caused serious damage, it might be time to replace the affected wood. Consider using pressure-treated wood or composite materials that are less attractive to carpenter bees.
10. Keep a Tennis Racket Handy
Okay, hear me out! If you’ve got a particularly persistent carpenter bee buzzing around, a tennis racket can be an effective (and slightly amusing) way to shoo them away without causing harm.
Which Way Will You Try First?
Dealing with a carpenter bee infestation doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
With these homestead-approved methods, you can protect your wooden structures and outdoor furniture while keeping your garden buzzing with pollinators.
Have you faced a carpenter bee problem before? I’d love to hear your tips and tricks in the comments below!
To learn more about earth conscience ways of gardening, read this post next: Ideas for an Eco-friendly and Sustainable Garden
Affiliate Disclosure: Shopping local is always best but, for those times you aren’t able to, I have included some Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on one of my links below and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. There is no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support.
