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Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 10:27 am
by GORDON
http://www.ehow.com/how_6363280_kill-flying-carpenter-bees.html
I just figured out what they were and why they have been lingering around my neighbor's split rail fence in my back yard. I looked more than once but couldn't see a nest. I also figured out why he spent all that time clearing brush from his fence line last month but ignored that 10 foot section.... he figured out they were there and then didn't do anything about it because it wasn't anywhere near HIS back yard/garden/child's play area. I just found about 5 bore holes in the top rail on his side.
I also wondered why one (or more?) was lingering around the the corner of my kid's wooden swing set, so great, now I have to try to find the bore hole between 2 2x6's with a half inch gap.
I already have the sugar water trap set on his fence. Hope it works.
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 10:50 am
by GORDON
I'm thinking about just removing the rail they are nesting in and burning it and then just buying a new damned top rail for $10 or whatever they cost.
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 1:22 pm
by TPRJones
Let me know how that trap works. My apartment complex is full of these things whizzing around, so I might set up one of those on my patio if it is worth the effort.
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 2:04 pm
by Leisher
I'm not even sure I knew of their existence until you posted this today and as I came back from lunch guess what was buzzing around the door into our offices?
We have a huge wooden deck outside the front door.
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 2:54 pm
by GORDON
My research tells me that the ones that buzz your head are the males and they are stingless/harmless. The females are the ones that sting but they don't even care about you and they just go back and forth between the nest and a pollen source.
Still contemplating my options if the sugar trap doesn't work. You can't just spray these because all you have is a 1/2" hole and the rest of the nest is in the wood and there is a right angle 1" into the tunnel so you can't spray into it. If I pull the top rail some evening and carry it to a bonfire the females are probably going to come out and attack me. If I wait for cold weather I am going to have a new generation to deal with, as the egg --> adult cycle lasts about 3 months, and then there's more next year.
I guess since it is my neighbor's fence on his property I can just tell him to deal with them, and go to the next township meeting to complain if he doesn't.
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:06 pm
by Malcolm
Don't suppose you can plug n-1 holes, smoke the fuckers, and then torch them?
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:06 pm
by unkbill
I know someone escardE of them to no end. They don't bother me.
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 10:38 pm
by GORDON
They don't seem to be aggressive, they just bore through wood and weaken structures. Best they don't get a foothold near my house.
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 11:13 pm
by TPRJones
You could try filling the nest with that rapidly expanding insulating foam stuff. They probably couldn't get out of that. Then sand it flat and paint it and it's good as new.
Edited By TPRJones on 1306898051
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:25 am
by GORDON
TPRJones wrote:You could try filling the nest with that rapidly expanding insulating foam stuff. They probably couldn't get out of that. Then sand it flat and paint it and it's good as new.
That's a thought. It did say, though, that if you sealed them up with live bees inside they will just bore out. Would have to hope the foam snagged them proper.
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:50 pm
by Malcolm
Seal and burn.
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 3:43 pm
by GORDON
1. I think my neighbor did something about them, because they disappeared midsummer.
2. If anyone wants a few hundred yellow jackets, you can come collect them on the ground under my pear and apple trees.
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:51 am
by Paul
We get those carpenter bees by my in-law's pool.
This summer I suggested we get badmitton rackets, which we did ($1 apiece at the Dollar Tree).
Best decision evar!
It is very satisfying to send them into orbit, or spike them and smash'em.
Last time I got one stuck in the mesh of the racket. 