Wood bees. I have lost the knack of catching them in the act, but evidence of them is starting to really get on my nerves! I swat them with a tennis racket when I see them, and I know to fill their holes with caulk when I find them around the house. But these are up in the rafters of a car-port where I can't reach. Anyone have any deterrent ideas?
First you get a ladder. ;) Al uses white grease or caulk, or if you wait until after dusk you can spray insecticide back inside the holes and catch them inside. lights out bees. Supposedly they won't drill painted wood, but... Next! There will be many more answers to follow I'm sure.
What I hear is if you spread some Cedar shavings/chips around the area the wood bees will leave.
Certainly you could try it, but I have a big cedar drift wood root hanging out on my deck for decoration.They drilled it.
Badminton raquets and grandchildren worked fine for my father.
I been pinging them puppies for years with a badminton raquet but now have been told that with the lack of honey bees in the area that the wood bees do most of the pollinating in the gardens. So now it's do I want lots of tomatoes or a carport that looks like swiss cheese. Steve, is it true the wood bees pollinate the gardens ?
Yes, now Steve can elaborate.
I don't know about wood bees, but I have some bees bigger than honey bees working my flowers. I know they aren't bumble bees or wood bees.
Might they be miner bees? Ground dwellers but not usually aggressive about stinging. We have them here too.
Quote from: Joanna on June 06, 2010, 11:31:42 AM
But these are up in the rafters of a car-port where I can't reach. Anyone have any deterrent ideas?
Just get rid of the carport, VIOLA, no more bees in the rafters ;D
Everybody's a comedian :P ::) ;D
Would you believe a very long pole, like bamboo or such with an insecticide soaked rag or cotton that you could poke in the holes? Some wasp sprays have a very long spray and might reach... Or call your Ag extension?
Time to get serious. NBS30 is a repellent. Works to repel wood bees ,doesn't kill them. Mix 3.2oz. per gal. in a pump sprayer and you might get it high where you need it. Spray 1 gal. per 500 square feet. You may need to respray a couple of times during the season. An insecticide that also repels is Cypermethrin spray. Read and follow all directions carefully.
Thanks Diane... but I don't do well with spraying over my head... it would end up being a stinky chemical shower for me... I've seen myself at work and I can say for sure it would not end well ::) ::)
I have some of that wasp spray that goes 25 or 30 foot, but while I am a good shot with a firearm, for some reason all I can hit is the side of the barn with that spray can. LOL!
I'll drag out the ladder and caulk gun and give that a try, maybe in a couple days when Flo is working so I won't have to come down and answer the phone a dozen times... you know it never rings till you can't possibly answer it. HA! I don't think a long pole would work because I couldn't get at the right angle to do any good.
Varmit, the only way that carport is going somewhere is in a tornado and I'm not expecting one soon because my insurance is paid up.
So have you had time to vanquish those wood bees yet? I'm still trying to come up with something better than a body sized trash bag and an umbrella. ;)
well, I did actually try the spray while standing in the doorway and slamming it shut before the stuff drifted back down. It was a little messy, but I haven't seen the bees for a couple days since, but I can't imagine I scared them off. We'll see... ::)
You probably scared them off. Who wouldn't run when a mad woman points a can at you then slams the door in your face?
yeah, been there, done that-----------ouch
Larryj
I know they won't bore into painted wood. I just spray their holes with wasp and hornet spray and it usually makes them leave.
Honestly, I have never seen a bore bee in the garden, but I have seen them on flowers. :)
Quote from: Wilma on June 06, 2010, 08:14:50 PM
I don't know about wood bees, but I have some bees bigger than honey bees working my flowers. I know they aren't bumble bees or wood bees.
Probably bumbles. wood bees don't produce honey. Only thing they produce is holes and sawdust.
How about mason bees?
Do mason bees wear little aprons when they meet?
Sure do....Hiram 25 ;D No, those are masonic bees. Different valley. ;D
Yeah, I have wood bees in my carport, too. My car is covered by yellow stuff and sawdust! Chuck says they don't bore into treated lumber. I've had a "little" luck spraying with Tempo, but have to do it more often than the label says. I like that stuff b/c you can use a pump sprayer and stand back and get a pretty far shot without being covered. Plus, it works for most all other bugs (ants, scorpions, spiders, flies) and is safe for pets after it dries. Supposed to have a residual effect.