Carpenter bee +...

[Guest TnRebel]

Carpenter Bees are major pollinators and have no stingers so if you have fruit trees or flowers on your property you are hurting yourself as bad as the bees, just saying , and there is a difference in bumblebees and carpenter bees

[enfield]

There's no fruit or flowers I want bad enough to have my deck destroyed.

[maddog909]

Huge ones at my sons place..... thinking maybe a tazar.....

[Guest Lester Weevils]

There's no fruit or flowers I want bad enough to have my deck destroyed.

Enfield, is your deck cedar, redwood, or some kind of pressure-treated? That link ETN posted said the carpenter bees don't eat the wood, but they just bore holes. So maybe they would bore into pressure-treated poison wood as good as anything else. Was just curious if I've only been lucky so far and the carpenter bees might eventually decide that my PT deck is a good winter house.

[LI0NSFAN]

I have to replace ALL the facia board on the back of my house from them. Does anyone know what wood they like most so I can stay away from that.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Dunno but they certainly didn't mind the untreated pine in my old sawhorses or the painted pine in the basement door frame. They've never got into my ancient pine front porch, but that old thing has so many coats of paint and maybe the lowest 20 coats of paint are lead.

After we built back-woods deck and steps leading down there with yellow wood, I got to liking it. Then built some other small outdoor stuff like a chainsaw log sawhorse out of the stuff, which has sat out in the weather for years apparently none the worse for wear.

Supposedly you have to be a little careful cutting and working with the pressure treated because the sawdust can be toxic. Maybe there is some health reason you wouldn't want to put a bunch of pressure-treated wood in a house. It is just so insect-impervious, unless there is a health hazard I'd be tempted to use it for much of a house frame, just because termites would definitely be no problemo as far as I know.

Dunno if it would be guaranteed to keep out carpenter bees though, because they don't eat the wood.

[Gun Smith]

Here's some great information on the subject.

I built one of these traps to catch the buggers. One bottle is already about full.

[kwe45919]

Carpenter bees will chew through treated lumber just the same. They actually pefer my treated wood vs. my (burning) wood pile or the tons of dead trees that have dropped in the forest. Those dropped trees are for hornets or regular honey bees.

I take some RTV and plug the holes...don't care if they are in there or not. Only 2 that I know of chewed a solid hole through a 2x4 after I plugged it with the RTV. Most just die from the fumes. I have seen these holes chewed right beside each other as well. Like 4 holes right next to each other in a line....same bee or different ones?

If the bees are flying low twards the ground, I'll take my pop-shots at'em with the pellet gun if I'm bored but I usually just wait till they land somewhere and then spray them with Kroil. They die rather quickly.

Edited April 17, 2012 by kwe45919

[seez52]

tennis racket or badmition works really good, great aerodynamics and speed

[Guest motonut]

Enfield, is your deck cedar, redwood, or some kind of pressure-treated? That link ETN posted said the carpenter bees don't eat the wood, but they just bore holes. So maybe they would bore into pressure-treated poison wood as good as anything else. Was just curious if I've only been lucky so far and the carpenter bees might eventually decide that my PT deck is a good winter house.

I know they've bored into 2 of my decks (PT lumber) both here and in PA. I now have a deck of both Trex and Lowes verson of Trex and haven't noticed any holes. Seriously doubt they like that stuff, suspect they've moved on to my neighbor's deck.

[enfield]

Pressure treated. They seem to like it. Got one yesterday.

I also have my deck, fence and shed sprayed with repellent every spring. I believe that helps send them to my neighbors' barns.

[enfield]

tennis racket or badmition works really good, great aerodynamics and speed

BUT . . . . shooting them is more elegant.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Thanks, will have to keep a closer eye on the deck. Its only been out there about 5 years so maybe they haven't noticed it yet. That article ETP posted said squirt a little insecticide in the hole, stuff in a ball of aluminum foil, then seal over with sealant. Will try that next time I find a hole. Dunno if the aluminum foil is to save on sealant use, as a backer, or some other purpose.

[StPatrick]

. Dunno if the aluminum foil is to save on sealant use, as a backer, or some other purpose.

Keeps HAARP from controlling the bees. It's the same reason I have my hat. I think I read it on WND, so it's gotta be true.

[~48_South~]

I live on a small farm and have 3 Doberman Pinschers and our barn is swarming with these things, my dogs will actually wait for the bees to hover and then they will jump up and catch them in their mouths, its probably one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed, even though I have seen them do it 100's of times it still makes me bust out laughing when they actually get one. Once they get one in their mouths they immediately start shaking their head and trying to spit it out,then one of the other dogs will pick it up and do the same. I always figured they have either been lucky and magically never got stung or the sting must not be that bad for them to have continued doing it over the years.

[vaiger]

Finally got around to making my .38 carpenter bee loads. Man, that was fun. We live in a log house and I absolutely hate those bees. On Saturday, I was supposed to be doing some work outside but I was too consumed with shooting those bees. I killed 15 my first day and I continue to pop a few each night.

Now, to figure out a good remedy for barn rats. I am thinking night vision and a can for my 10/22.....

[enfield]

Welcome to the Sport of Kings!

I got 4 yesterday, but missed one twice today. Buck fever I guess.

[gjohnsoniv]

This would be an excellent time for an old cap 'n ball, or even better, a LeMat.

[kwe45919]

.357 revolver type co2 Pellet pistol. Picked one up at Wally World....definatly a fun way to spend an evening splattering bee guts everywhere. The wife thought i was nuts till she tried to hit one. Took her a bit but she finally got one....I was kinda proud when she said that was cool.

Edited May 3, 2012 by kwe45919

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Perhaps the ultimate-- Maybe even more entertaining than drinking beer and watching the bug zapper-- A very small R/C helicopter with on-board videocam? Dog-fight the bees. Steer the little craft watching the video feed?

[gjohnsoniv]

This would be the ultimate.

[Garufa]

This would be the ultimate.

One wrong flick of the joystick and you'd have a very bad day.

[gjohnsoniv]

One wrong flick of the joystick and you'd have a very bad day.

At least you would be having fun. I seriously wonder about the guy in that video though.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Muzzle control! Muzzle control! You could shoot yerself in the butt easier with that than with a glock!

[Garufa]

You could shoot yerself in the butt...

Or worse!