May 3, 2010
do carpenter bee’s or bumble bee’s spray feces? We have what look like big carpenter bee’s that come back every year and make holes up near our roof on our house. There’s also sprayed (what looks like feces) all over the top of our house. I heard that carpender bees do this to know where to come back every year is this true? If we get rid of the “feces” spray will they go away??
If you read through our CARPENTER BEE ARTICLE, you’ll learn these bees drill through wood to created nests. This drilling will many times create a sawdust by product which can “leak” down siding giving the appearance of droppings or bee feces. Additionally, bees which remain active in one location will definitely defecate as they drill. Feces will also be “pushed out” or disposed through exit holes. Many times this disposal process will cause the feces to trickle down the house siding which is what you’re no doubt seeing.
These droppings are not only messy, they’re damaging. Typically they’ll contain strong acids that have been known to etch glass, stain paint and mar the wood grain of exterior siding. In general they’re near impossible to wash off and often times trying to remove them will result in creating more damage so be careful. And do not clean up the mess until you solve the problem!
Regarding these bees returning each spring; females will reuse old nests from year to year and their offspring will most likely drill new nests close by. As explained in this post:
the vast majority of nests will be occupied all winter by hibernating females and males just waiting for the weather to get warm enough for them to emerge and begin their summertime activities. In most areas of the United States this will start in April-May and the activity will continue through Oct-Nov.
Getting rid of the feces will no doubt make the home look nicer but it will in no way influence the local bees nesting in your home. Females in heat are what attract male bees as well as prime nest real estate. If the siding and soffits of your home are left unprotected, the wood will release odors which are conducive to insect infestations and in doing so will many times attract wood loving pests like carpenter bees. At this point it’s imperative for you to treat existing holes with DEMISE DUST and then seal them up with the 1/2″ PLUGS featured in our article. And the best sprays you can apply to prevent new nesting will be either the MAXXTHOR EC or the PEST AWAY REPELLENT. As you’re already seeing, failure to follow these suggestions will just allow the problem to propagate from year to year.
Here are direct links to the products and information listed above:
https://bugspray.com/article/carpenterbee
https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/dust/drione-demise-dust-6-oz
https://bugspray.com/equipment/equipment-plugs/cork-12
https://bugspray.com/equipment/dusters/crusader
https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/maxxthor-ec
https://bugspray.com/exempt/liquid/pest-away
Give us a call if you still have questions.
Technical Support
1-800-877-7290
Filed under BEE DROPPINGS