Carpenter bees

Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa spp.)

Carpenter bees are large, robust bees that bore perfectly round holes into unfinished or weathered wood to create nesting galleries for their larvae. While males are territorial and can be intimidating, they lack stingers; females can sting but are rarely aggressive. Over multiple seasons, reuse of galleries and expansion can cause cosmetic and structural damage to decks, eaves, and wooden siding. Treating active galleries with residual insecticides and painting or sealing exposed wood surfaces effectively prevents new and recurring infestations.