Carpenter Bee Control In Gaithersburg MD

Comprehensive Carpenter Bee Control For Gaithersburg, MD

Carpenter bees may not be as aggressive as other stinging pests in Gaithersburg, but that doesn't mean they aren't a problem for local residents. While only the females have stingers, these bees can pack a punch on our property as they bore out holes for their nests. Often attempts to seal out carpenter bees instead result in these insects digging deeper into our homes and businesses. 

For guaranteed treatment of carpenter bees on your property, trust the professionals at Miche Pest Control. Our licensed technicians have the experience and quality products to take care of existing carpenter bees and keep them from returning. Give us a call or reach out to us online today to learn more about our carpenter bee control and other pest control services. Make sure to ask about our pest free guarantee and request a free quote. 

Carpenter Bees In Gaithersburg: How To Identify And Avoid Them

Carpenter bees in Gaithersburg look similar to bumble bees, making them challenging to identify. There are a few factors you can consider to differentiate between the two:

• Size: Carpenter bees are about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, while bumble bees range from 1/2 to 1 inch long.
• Appearance: Carpenter bees have a smooth and shiny abdomen and can have varying colors from yellow, white, back, blue, or brown, while bumble bees are fuzzy with yellow and black coloring.
• Behavior: Carpenter bees are solitary, which means they live alone, while bumble  bees are social and live in colonies.
• Nests: Carpenter bees bore holes into wood, while bumble bees build nests close to the ground.

To avoid carpenter bee nests on your property, apply paint or varnish to unfinished wood. 

Miche Pest Control can help you with carpenter bee prevention and control in Gaithersburg, so call us today to learn more about our services!

How Much Do You Really Know About The Carpenter Bees In Gaithersburg?

When it comes to stinging insects or wood-destroying pests, carpenter bees are often at the bottom of the list. Because of this, you might not know a lot about this species, so here is what you should know:

• Carpenter bees and bumble bees are regularly misidentified.
• They are a solitary species.
• Only female carpenter bees sting. Males don't have a stinger, but they are known for buzzing aggressively close to people.
• Female carpenter bees aren't aggressive but will sting if they feel threatened.
• Females bore holes into weathered wood to build nests and lay eggs.
• Although they chew wood to make a nest, they don't eat the wood.
• Carpenter bees hibernate during the winter and reemerge in the spring.
• Filling or covering a hole made by a carpenter bee will cause them to bore further inside.
• Like other bees, carpenter bees are pollinators; flowering plants on your property could attract them.

As with any other pest, there is much more to know about them than can fit on one page, so the best thing to do is work with a Gaithersburg pest control expert to identify, treat, and prevent animals and insects correctly. 

Miche Pest Control has assisted Gaithersburg residents with carpenter bees and other home-invading critters since 2019, so reach out today!

When Are Carpenter Bees Active In Gaithersburg?

Carpenter bees are native to the area and are most active from the late spring through summer. During this time, carpenter bees mate and reproduce. Here's a look at the carpenter bee life cycle:

• In early spring, female carpenter bees find a nesting site. Sometimes they reuse existing nests and enlarge them or they create new ones.
• After completing their nest, they will collect pollen and nectar, placing them inside the nest.
• Then she lays a single egg and creates a cell, sealing it with saliva and wood pulp, and then continues making these as she lays eggs.
• While females make their nests and lay eggs, males provide protection outside. 
• After a few days, larvae will hatch and feed on the pollen and nectar placed by female carpenter bees.
• Larvae take about two weeks to enter the pupal stage and another two weeks to develop into an adult. 
• Usually, adult carpenter bees will emerge and feed on pollen and nectar.
• Adults return to their nests and overwinter in the fall, emerging in the spring to start the cycle again.

You can keep carpenter bees from breeding on your property by working with Miche Pest Control for year-round pest prevention and control.

Warning Signs Carpenter Bees Leave Behind Around Gaithersburg Homes

You can look for several signs to identify a carpenter bee problem. These signs are round and smooth holes in wood, piles of sawdust on the ground below holes, and staining on the wood underneath. 

If you don't see any carpenter bee damage or other signs of this pest, take these preventative measures:

• Paint or varnish any untreated wood.
• Remove weathered or water-damaged wood from your property.
• Use hardwoods instead of softwoods when you can.
• Inspect the exterior of your home, decks, fences, and outbuildings for signs of pest damage.
• Fill in any holes, but ensure they are empty first.
• Keep your yard clear of dead trees, stumps, and logs.
• Keep plants from over-flowering and position gardens away from your home.

Another way people prevent carpenter bees from damaging their property is by providing a bee house. If you are interested in doing this, it is always best to connect with someone who has bee house knowledge to ensure you are using the correct one and that you place it in the right location from your home.

Get rid of carpenter bees on your property by working with our experts at Miche Pest Control. Contact us today to learn more!