Finding holes in your deck and porch in OH? Here’s why your wood is slowly disappearing
When Spring is in the process of springing, your deck’s worst enemy appears. Carpenter bees are putting those tiny holes in all your outdoor wood surfaces, but don’t make up your mind about them just yet.
Despite the common belief that these wood-loving bees eat the wood, they’re actually just boring into it.
The bees create tunnels in the wood and often return to the same spots year after year, potentially extending tunnels up to several feet.
Ohio has several species of carpenter bees, with the Eastern Carpenter bee being the largest and most common. There are also several other smaller species which are sometimes confused with sweat bees.
How is a carpenter bee different from a regular bee?
Carpenter bees are indeed different from their cousins, the honeybee and bumblebee. They are, of course, the only bee with an affinity for wood, there are some other key differences as well.
Nesting: They create individual nests and do not live in colonies like bumblebees or honey bees.
Size: They are generally larger than other bees, measuring between .75 to 1 inch long.
Stinging: Female carpenter bees will sting if provoked. The male of the species can’t sting but can often appear aggressive when approached.
Pollination: They play an important role in fertilizing plants, much like the bumblebee.
Why wood?
These industrious little creatures bore into the wood to create their nests for laying eggs and raising the babies. They prefer untreated wood that’s at least two inches thick, and they will coat everything in a layer of sawdust.
There are some practical reasons they do this:
Soft, untreated wood is an ideal habitat because it is easier to bore than harder variations like oak or maple.
Reuse of the wood saves the female’s energy from having to rebuild year after year.
Tunnels in the wood serve as shelter from predators and harsh weather, and will house the bee babies while they mature.
Nest chambers inside the tunnels function as storage for pollen and nectar to feed the larvae.
They can be a real pain for homeowners
While these bees are great pollinators, if left unchecked they can cause significant damage to wooden structures on your property.
We have great respect for the bees, but you should be aware of some of the problems they cause:
Holes bored can be a half an inch or bigger and the tunnels can reach up to 10 feet long.
Over time, they can weaken the integrity of your wooden structures like decks, stairs or awnings.
Their excrement can stain wood, ceilings and walls, which can be difficult and expensive to remove.
Woodpeckers are attracted to the carpenter bee larvae causing further damage to the wood as they drill to get to the food inside.
Water can enter the tunnels causing the wood to rot and crumble.
Useful and thoughtful strategies for bee control
These bees may seem like a real nuisance, but play a vital role in the environmental balance. They are essential pollinators, they are key contributors to the food web and they help decompose rotting wood, which recycles nutrients into the soil.
They are gentle little creatures, so take a softer approach when trying to protect your property:
Prevention is key
Paint or stain wood surfaces regularly
Opt for harder woods instead of pine or cedar
Apply wood preservatives like Boracare
Use pressure treated lumber
Start with natural remedies first
Create a mixture of eucalyptus oil and water as a natural repellent
Use a solution of rubbing alcohol, apple cider vinegar and essential oils
Apply garlic powder directly into bee holes
Physical removal can work, as long as you don’t harm them in the process
Vacuum bees out of shallow nests
Seal existing holes with steel wool and caulk after bees have emerged
Install carpenter bee traps near affected areas (The Best Bee Brothers have a helpful tutorial to build your own)
As a last resort, you can try chemical treatments
Apply insecticidal dust directly into entrance holes
Use aerosol foam insecticides to expand and fill nests
Spray insecticidal solutions into and around nesting sites
Have you been battling these little buzzers in your yard? Do you have any ideas about how to control them without exterminating them?
Email me all the tips, tricks and hacks at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on Instagram.
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM.
