Carpenter Bees
Drill perfectly round holes in wood siding, decks, and trim — very common in Maine homes with wood exteriors.
About Carpenter Bees in Central Maine
Carpenter bees are large, solitary bees that bore perfectly round half-inch holes into untreated or weathered wood to create nesting galleries. They are extremely common in Central Maine, where many homes feature wood clapboard siding, cedar shingles, decks, fascia boards, and wooden trim. Unlike termites, carpenter bees don't eat wood — they excavate it to lay eggs inside tunnels that can extend 6–10 inches deep. Over multiple generations, these tunnels can branch and expand significantly, weakening structural wood. The males are aggressive and will hover and dive-bomb people near nests, but they cannot sting. Females can sting but rarely do. Woodpeckers often cause additional damage by drilling into carpenter bee galleries to eat the larvae inside.
Signs of Carpenter Bees
- Perfectly round, half-inch diameter holes in wood siding, trim, decks, or eaves
- Piles of sawdust (frass) below holes in wood
- Large, hovering bees near wooden structures (males are territorial)
- Yellowish-brown staining below entry holes from bee excrement
- Woodpecker damage near existing carpenter bee holes
- Buzzing sounds coming from inside wood
Prevention Tips
- Paint or stain all exterior wood surfaces — carpenter bees prefer untreated wood
- Fill existing holes with steel wool and wood putty after treatment
- Replace heavily damaged wood with composite or PVC alternatives
- Apply residual insecticide to vulnerable wood surfaces in early spring
- Hang carpenter bee traps near known activity areas
- Seal gaps in fascia, soffits, and trim to reduce access to wood
Did You Know?
- 1.Carpenter bee tunnels can extend over 10 inches into wood and are reused year after year
- 2.Male carpenter bees cannot sting — they only bluff-charge to scare intruders
- 3.Carpenter bees are important pollinators, especially for open-faced flowers and tomatoes
Need Help With Carpenter Bees?
Our general pest control service targets carpenter bees at the source. Contact us for a free inspection and quote.
