Citrus oil spray for carpenter bees

The safest way to get rid of Carpenter Bees would be to call a professional bee removal team, such as Bee Serious Bee Removal because when it comes to the safety of your family, you only want the best.

With over 20,000 different species of bees in the world, there are bound to be a few of them that are more of a hindrance than a help. One of those bees is the Carpenter Bee. They look similar to Bumblebees in size and general shape but whereas Bumblebees usually nest in the ground, Carpenter Bees nest and lay their eggs in wood that they have drilled into for protection. If you notice these wood dwellers living in your home, here are 8 ways you can get rid of Carpenter bees on your own.

Although Carpenter Bees are typically docile, they can still cause big problems in your home. The male hovers just outside the nest to protect and fight off any intruders or other bees by engaging in physical combat, albeit without a stinger. The female, who actually does have a stinger, acts as a last line of defense for those who enter the nest. The real problem with Carpenter Bees is what they do to the wooden features of your home. These little insects bore holes out of soft wood and create a series of tunnels to lay their eggs and seek refuge from the weather and danger outside of the nest. Even though this doesn’t seem too bad, over time it will do a lot of damage to your home. Carpenter Bees are looking for raw or untreated wood, damp wood and older outdoor furnishings such as tables and chairs. This means the most common places you will find them is door frames, windows, the siding of your home, patio furniture and exposed wooden beams.

If you have realized that you have a Carpenter Bee infestation, here are a few simple ways to get rid of them or protect your home before they come around looking for a new place to build a nest:

1. Paint or seal any exposed wood around your home.

These little bees are looking for easy to drill wood, therefore, if your deck, door frame or windows are left untreated, they are the prime candidate for a bee infestation.

2. Vacuum the bees out with a wet-vac.

This method is best if the nest is fairly new and if you have a high powered wet-vac. The best time to try this is to wait until the evening because the bees will be back in the nest for the night.

3. Make a lot of noise.

Carpenter bees enjoy the quiet so if you find yourself with some unwanted guests, set up a radio or speaker right next to or on top of where the nest is. Not only does the music disorient them, the vibrations will cause them to evacuate their nest. Often times, once a severe problem has happened in their nest, they will not return to that same place anymore.

4. Make a citrus spray.

Carpenter Bees are naturally repelled by the smell of citrus. in a small pot of water, slice the citrus fruit and boil it in the water for 10-15 minutes to release the juice. Let the citrus water cool down and pour it into a spray bottle with a “stream” nozzle and spray it into the nest site.

5. Boric Acid.

This common household item can be used for a bevy of different DIY insect-removal projects. Mix 3 parts water with 1 part boric acid in a spray bottle and spray inside the entrance hole. This is very poisonous to the carpenter bees and will exterminate them within an hour.

6. Aerosol Carburetor Cleaner.

Although this is not the most natural remedy, it works. Whether they are inside when you spray it inside or not, it will either kill them or make their nest inhabitable.

7. Essential Oils.

Carpenter Bees are very sensitive when it comes to scents inside their nest. Peppermint, tea tree and lemon essential oils are excellent for making their nest unbearable thus making them leave for good. Although this isn’t a permanent solution, it will buy you a little time to safely get them out of the nest without hurting them so you can properly seal the entrance site.

8. Pyrethrum Spray.

Pyrethrum, also called Tanacetum, is a flower that is used a lot in natural pesticides. It is one of the strongest natural insecticides that is allowed in organic gardening.

If you notice a carpenter bee hovering around your house, you can bet there is an entrance to their nest nearby. Although home remedies seem easy and foolproof, you should always wear protective gear when handling chemicals as well as disturbing an insect nest.

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If you notice signs of an infestation around your home, it’s suggested to learn how to get rid of carpenter bees naturally before relying on pesticides or insecticides. Carpenter bees are important pollinators, but an infestation can cause structural damage to your home.

Similar to termites, female carpenter bees build their nests by drilling holes into wooden structures including home exteriors, window sills, decks, playgrounds, and trees. 

Protect your home, family, and ecosystem with the natural pest control methods below. 

Difficulty: Simple (2/5)

DIY experience and special training aren’t required to apply these bee removal techniques to your home. However, the increased project difficulty surrounds the trial and error required to find the most effective method, along with the potential danger of being stung. 

Total Project Time: 1 hour

It takes about an hour to make and spray essential oil deterrents. However, the total project time may increase if additional removal methods are required. 

Cost: $7

Essential oil (the base ingredient in DIY repellent spray) costs about $7 per bottle. The total project cost increases if you need to buy additional materials or try other removal methods. 

• Spray bottle

• Music speaker

Materials 

• Citrus essential oil

• Almond oil or extract

• Water

• Wood plank

• Steel wool or wood putty

• Caulk

• Stain or varnish

5 Ways to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees Naturally 

Photo: GenOne360 / Adobe Stock

Use one or a combination of these five humane carpenter bee removal techniques to protect your home and get rid of them without killing them. 

1. Citrus Spray

Citrus fruit (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, etc.) is a scent known to naturally deter carpenter bees. While you can buy a premade citrus spray online, many homeowners find it beneficial to make their own. By doing so, you can control the ingredients and amount of citrus used. Make a citrus spray with the following recipe:

• Fill a spray bottle halfway with water

• Add 10 drops of citrus essential oil 

• Secure the lid and shake the bottle well

Spray the mixture liberally around the nest. If the bees still come back, you may need to reapply the mixture with 5–10 additional drops of citrus oil. 

2. Almond Oil 

Almond is another scent that is said to repel bees. Almond-scented spray can be made using the same method as the citrus spray above. Just swap citrus essential oil for almond oil or extract. Almond scent is lighter when compared to citrus, so you may need to add 5–10 additional almond oil drops right out of the gate. 

3. Vibrations and Sounds

It’s believed that carpenter bees become irritated by vibrations and loud noises. Try pointing a speaker toward the bee’s nest and playing loud music with heavy bass for six hours, continually checking the nest. 

4. Decoy or “Sacrificial” Wood

The goal of this method is to lure bees out of their current nest by using the methods listed above and coax them into a controlled nest. To do this, you’ll need a piece of unfinished wood that’s too good for a carpenter bee to ignore. Softwood such as pine, redwood, or cedar will work best. 

Make sure the wood is thick enough to hold a carpenter bee nest. You can even use a drill and a hole saw bit to create a nickel-sized hole to encourage bees in. 

Place the decoy plank near the original nest on a ladder to get it elevated and monitor it regularly. Once the bees nest in the new spot, carefully move the plank as far away from your home as possible.  

5. Wait It Out

Though this method won’t help protect your home in the short term, it’s the most effective option if the above methods fail. Carpenter bees don’t stay in one nest for long. Carefully monitor the nest daily by listening for buzzing noises. Gently tap around the area and look for bees emerging from the nest.

Once you believe the bees have fled, fill the hole with steel wool or wood putty. Seal the hole with caulk and paint over it with a stain or varnish. Spray the area liberally with a citrus or almond spray regularly throughout the following spring and summer for extra protection. 

Preventing a Carpenter Bee Infestation Around Your Home 

Prevention is key to carpenter bee control. If you’ve had problems around your home in the past, there are things you can do in the fall to prevent carpenter bees from coming back in the early spring. 

Seal Existing Wood Holes 

Carpenter bees usually begin leaving their nests in the fall—the perfect time to seal existing carpenter bee holes so they don’t come back the following year. Use wood putty or steel wool to fill the empty nest. Seal it with caulk and paint stain or varnish over top. 

Treat Your Wood

Treat the exposed wood and crevices around your house with layers of paint, stain, or varnish to deter carpenter bees. Consider installing vinyl siding in the most vulnerable areas. 

Carpenter Bee FAQs

Removing carpenter bees from your home can be tricky. Here are a few answers to your most common carpenter bee questions. 

Do carpenter bees sting?

A female carpenter bee can sting you, though usually only if provoked. Male carpenter bees, however, don’t have stingers. The queen bee drills extended tunnels inside the wood to lay eggs, so she is not often seen. It is more common to come into contact with a male bee protecting the hive. 

If you’re allergic to bees, it’s best to contact a local pest control company to handle the situation for you. 

How can I tell carpenter bees apart from other types of bees?

Carpenter bees closely resemble bumblebees, but there are a few key differences to look for. While bumblebees have fuzzy yellow stripes along their entire body, carpenter bees are mainly black with a hard, shiny shell and a fuzzy yellow head. 

Why are they called carpenter bees? 

Carpenter bees get their name from the way they build their nests. Unlike other bees that build a hive on the exterior of a structure, carpenter bees drill into exposed wood, similar to a carpenter using a drill. 

How can I identify a carpenter bee infestation? 

You may have a carpenter bee problem if you notice the following:

• Nickel-sized holes in wood structures from burying

• Chewing noises coming from inside the wood

• Sawdust found underneath the boreholes

What are the risks of having a carpenter bee infestation around my home? 

While carpenter bees prefer to leave people alone, there’s always the risk of being stung by a female bee that might be wandering or provoked. Additionally, carpenter bees build their nests by digging holes into wood, potentially causing damage to your home. 

Is it OK to use carpenter bee traps? 

Carpenter bees are important pollinators—they play a large role in our ecosystem and food chain. While effective, a carpenter bee trap will kill them, so it should only be considered as a last resort. This includes pesticides, insecticides, aerosols, bee sprays, and insecticide dust as well.

Displacing bees without harm and preventing their return is the most humane and ethical way to handle a bee issue on your property.

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