Walking out onto the deck and having a large, intimidating bee dive-bomb your head repeatedly is alarming. But the truth about carpenter bee danger might surprise you. The threat they pose to people is much smaller than it seems. The real danger is to your home's structure.
The Threat to Humans: Mostly a Bluff
The aggressive, dive-bombing bees are almost always males. Male carpenter bees are territorial and will hover and dart at anything that comes near their territory, including people. However, male bees do not have stingers. The intimidating behavior is entirely a bluff. They cannot hurt you.
Can Female Carpenter Bees Sting?
Female carpenter bees do have stingers, but they are extremely docile and will only sting if directly handled or squeezed. Unlike yellow jackets or hornets, a female carpenter bee will not sting simply because a person walks near her. The risk of being stung by a carpenter bee is very low for most people.
The Real Danger: Structural Damage
While the risk of stings is low the structural damage they cause over time is a genuine concern. Each female drills a half-inch hole and excavates a gallery that can extend several inches into the wood. Over multiple seasons, as new generations return to the same wood, the tunnels expand and multiply. This weakens the structural integrity of decks, fascia boards, and siding. Woodpeckers, attracted by the larvae inside, cause additional damage by pecking large holes in the wood.
Protect Your Home with Bee Removal in Overland Park, KS
Contact Frontier Trapper to stop the wood damage and eliminate the nuisance. Early treatment prevents the minor damage of a few holes from becoming a major structural repair project. Call us today for bee removal in Overland Park, KS.