I have a log home and every spring it becomes infested with carpenter bees. I’d like to apply drione in the holes and cork them around the house but do i wait for the spring or can i do it now in the fall? Tks in advance for the help.
If you review our online article on CARPENTER BEE CONTROL, you’ll learn that nests will most likely hatch out young bees in the fall. Additionally the treatment will last at least till next spring so there is no need to wait. If you dust and seal the holes now, all the nests you treat will effectively be shut down for good. So to answer your question, have at it ASAP and be done with the current infestation.
However, it’s highly likely more will come around next spring. As our article explains, there is a good chance your cabin will be targeted by new bees next spring so don’t forget to treat with either the MAXXTHOR EC or the INSECT REPELLENT. This will stop new nests from being drilled and when structures have had activity, it’s almost always necessary to spray each spring to keep new ones away.
Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:
Carpenter Bee Control: www.carpenterbees.com
Maxxthor: bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/liquid/maxxthor-ec
NBS Repellent: https://bugspray.com/exempt/additive/nbs-paint-additive-16-oz
Demise: https://bugspray.com/catalog/insecticide/dust/drione-demise-dust-6-oz
Crusader Duster: bugspray.com/equipment/dusters/crusader
Corks: https://bugspray.com/equipment/equipment-plugs/cork-12
Give us a call if you still have questions.
Technical Support
1-800-877-7290
denise says
We own a log home. It is February and very cold but we keep hearing a buzzing noise and can not locate what is making the sound. It sounds similar to a carpenter bee as we have had problems with them in the spring and summer. Is it possible there is a nest in our logs or eaves and we are hearing them buzz?
admin says
@denise: In fact it’s highly likely there is at least one nest that’s responsible for the sounds you hear. As explained in our Carpenter Bee Article and several posts on this site, carpenter bee do not die before or during the winter. Instead they hibernate in nests drilled out the proceeding year. In some instances these nests can get very close to living spaces. When in close proximity these nests will naturally be “warm” compared to outside temperatures. This can allow over wintering bees to keep active. However, the cold outside will be avoided and in most cases they’ll drill toward the warmth instinctively.
At this point I suggest you attempt to locate any holes or cracks adjacent to the buzzing sound. Look on the outside of the building. If you find a location or two where they could be entering and living, dusting it now with Demise Dust listed in our article will take care of them. Alternatively you could wait for them to drill through to the living space and then treat and seal the holes at that time. Just remember that failing to treat any holes you find on your logs without first treating with Demise is risky business. We get many, many calls from people who sealed their log holes to paint or stain and afterward came to learn there were bees living inside the holes they sealed. These cases will invariably lead the bees to keep drilling and in some cases they’ll end up foraging into living spaces. Suffice to say this will cause trouble throughout the year. A good dose of Demise can prevent this scenario from playing out and can be used at any time.
Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:
Article: www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control
Demise: www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page256.html
www.carpenterbees.com/bee-life/carpenter-bee-life-cycle.html