There is this black and yellow bee that hovers and darts around the eaves of your house. It resembles a beetle, but the yellow color makes it distinct. Besides, it flies with a more aggressive buzz. At times, this insect hovers around your wooden playset. But you can find it on flowers in your garden. That is a vivid depiction of a carpenter bee. Probably, you have seen it drill your structures.
They are solitary insects and have a unique nesting habit from other species. You may mistake them carpenter bees for bumble bees but the former drill tunnels in wooden structures while the latter does it in the ground. If you have seen several bees fly around the eaves of your house, there are high chances that they are carpenter bees. They hover and darts in a thrilling and intimidating manner, although they are harmless.
In fact, they are crucial in the environment as pollination agents. However, they can cause damage to your structures and property. Therefore, you have no other option other than finding out how to get rid of carpenter bees in your home. Below are measures you can take to eradicate these insects.
Measures to eradicate carpenter bees
1. Staining the wooden surfaces
If you are keen to get rid of carpenter bees, ensure no bare and exposed wood surfaces in your homestead. These insects prefer unstained and untreated wood. However, if you stain or paint it, they won’t get any closer.
Wooden structures are all over our homestead. If you don’t want these insects to ruin them, seal the wood with a high-quality sealer.
2. Dislocate the insects
Despite these insects being destructive, they are essential for pollination. You can take measures to ensure they won’t attack your important structures. You can make a carpenter bee home for them. Keep it near the area they frequent to attract them. After they discover this dwelling, take it away from your homestead. It is a great way to get rid of carpenter bees around your wooden structure.
3. Noise
Despite the aggressive buzz that carpenter bees come with, they hate noise and vibration. You can use wind chimes around their nesting sites to send them away. Install several along the eaves and eradicate carpenter bees around your house.
4. Plug old holes
Another way to get rid of carpenter bees is to block their holes. Once they make the tunnels, they keep coming back. You can use steel wool soaked in vinegar. The wool makes it difficult for the bees to pass through while the vinegar repels them.
The moment you seal the holes, they might make an effort to drill another one. However, if you block the second time, they lose their morale and move to another place. Before you proceed to plug the tunnels, ensure to check whether there are any larvae present. The problems are not majorly hatching into an adult, but woodpeckers might come looking for them. You end up with new damage.
5. Use repellents
You can use various oils to get rid of carpenter bees in your home. A solution of rubbing alcohol, apple cider vinegar, lavender, and tea tree oils can ward off the bees. Measure a teaspoon of the alcohol and two of the vinegar and put it in a spray bottle.
Add six drops each for the tea tree and lavender oil. Close the bottle and shake it thoroughly. The product you have in your hand is enough to get rid of carpenter bees around your home. The oils are repellants, while the other two components kill the bees. Apply the solution directly to the insects and eliminate them for good.
A mixture of Jojoba oil, Tea tree oil, citronella oil, and lavender oil can work effectively to ward off the insects. The use of oil brings a pleasant fragrance around the house and at the same time.
You can as well use almond oil to repel these insects away. The oil contains Benzaldehyde, a compound that deters the carpenter bees. It remains effective for up to four months, and it is effective against both adult and larvae.
Many insects dislike the scent form citrus oil. Therefore, it is a perfectly natural and non-toxic way to get rid of carpenter bees. Take any citrus fruit and squeeze the juice in hot water. You can also use the peels instead. Boil for some time and place it in a spray bottle. If you spot their tunnels, spray and deter any nesting activity. Besides, you can apply the oil on the areas they frequent so that they won’t come to continue with their drills.
6. Use a decoy nest
Another get rid of carpenter bees home remedy is to use a decoy nest. Carpenter bees prefer living alone, away from other insects such as wasps. Whenever they are about to camp on a structure and find a wasp nest, they are quick to flee. You can create a fake nest that resembles the wasps in size, shape, and color.
A brown paper bag and a soft and light material like moist can do the magic. Use a string to hang your paraphernalia on the house you wish to cushion from the damage. However, note that this method won’t get rid of carpenter bees that already have a nest. But it prevents the building of a new one.
7. Trap the insects
You can use a trap to get rid of carpenter bees in your yard. The top of the trap is wooden, with holes drilled in an inclining angle. There is a jar below this wood. The holes are at an angle, meaning the only light available comes from the bottom where there is the jar. When they fall in it, they can’t come out. You should place this trap around the nest. Although it might take some time to work, once some of the bees release pheromone’s insides, it attracts others.
8. Petroleum
Another effective home remedy to get rid of carpenter bees is through the use of petroleum. You can spray some gasoline around the entrance several times. Although this is petroleum is a great repellent to these insects, it is highly flammable. Therefore, it is wrong to use it near an ignition source; otherwise, it may result in fire accidents.
Related Posts:
- How to Get Rid of House Flies with Home Remedies
- How to Get Rid of Ticks with Home Remedies
- How to Get Rid of Cockroaches with Home Remedies
- How to Get Rid of Centipedes
- How to Get Rid of Ants with Home Remedies