Carpenter Bee Removal
in Illinois

In Illinois, there is no end to creepy critters – think mice, termites, ants, and spiders – you name it, we’ve got it! You may think of bees as more of an outdoor pest that doesn’t affect your home or business, but that’s not the case for carpenter bees.

Female carpenter bees use their strong mandibles to tunnel through wood. It’s not uncommon for homeowners or business owners to find these bees creating holes in various parts of their house or building.

Many people are scared of bees and don’t want them around their property. While carpenter bees don’t bite, the females will sting if provoked. Carpenter bees are pollinators for certain flowers, so while they may have a bad reputation, they are helpful – just not while creating large holes in your home. That’s why you need to contact American Pest Control for carpenter bee removal at the first sign of infestation. If you see carpenter bees buzzing or you notice those perfectly round holes and you don’t know what’s making them, call us before it gets worse.

There are small and large carpenter bees in Illinois. The smaller variety is only about ¼ inch in length and is not worth treating for. The larger variety can grow to be about 1 inch in length. The large ones are the ones found drilling holes in your porch and need to be dealt with.

Large carpenter bees have the following characteristics:

• About 1 inch in length
• Normally black and yellow
• A narrow joint between the thorax and abdomen
• Yellowish hairs on the legs and thorax, but no visible hairs on the top of the abdomen

Small carpenter bees, on the other hand, are under ¼ inch long and have a metallic appearance. They are darker in color and can vary from black, greenish black, purplish blue, or metallic blue, and have some yellow markings on the body and face.

Large carpenter bees can be mistaken for bumblebees – which is why it’s so important to have a professional pest control company come out to ID the insect you have around before trying to treat. A carpenter bee has a more distinct division between its body sections and doesn’t have a fuzzy abdomen (the tail section), which is an iconic feature of bumblebees. 

Wasps and hornets are smoother and shinier than carpenter bees.

While bumblebees nest in existing underground holes (such as burrows), carpenter bees create tunnels in wood.

Carpenter bees are solitary insects. They do not live in colonies, so you won’t see large swarms in high-traffic areas. You are more likely to see a single bee or a small number loosely grouped in the same general area.

The adults spend winters in tunnels and emerge in the spring to mate. When female carpenter bees are fertilized, they bore into wood to create a tunnel in which to lay their eggs. The female creates cells for housing individual eggs. She then lays eggs, and the babies hatch and mature over several weeks. The cycle continues as the babies turn into adults.

Do carpenter bees need to be exterminated? While not as bad as termites, carpenter bees can still cause significant damage to your home or business. A female carpenter bee will often return to the same nest year after year, expanding the tunnels and creating additional damage each season.

Carpenter bees create their nest in untreated wood. You are most likely to find them in softwood that isn’t painted or sealed, or where the treatment has aged and no longer provides a protective barrier. Keep a close eye on woods such as:

• Redwood
• Cedar
• Cypress
• Pine

Carpenter bees will nest in various areas of the home, including:

• Rafters
• Wooden roofs and shingles
• Eaves
• Siding
• Fascia boards
• Decks and porches
• Outdoor furniture
• Wooden play structures
• Sheds and outbuildings

Watch for small round holes in and around any untreated wood.

There are several signs that you have carpenter bees in or around your home or business:

• Entrance holes in wood (about ½ inch in diameter)
• Sawdust around holes
• Yellow-brown feces near entrance holes

Presence of a small number of male carpenter bees flying around

While there are sprays and DIY products that may work temporarily, it’s best to get help from the professionals. American Pest Control can inspect your home and determine the best course of action to ensure these annoying pests are fully eradicated from your home. Our carpenter bee removal service will safely and effectively eliminate them.

While you shouldn’t perform carpenter bee removal on your own, you can do your part to keep them from coming back and prevent infestations.

Our Process 

A professional exterminator will carefully inspect your home or business for signs of the bees and identify the species you have around. They will then apply specially formulated insecticides in the holes and surrounding area to eradicate the adult bees and their larvae.

Once the carpenter bees have been professionally removed, you should:

• Replace any damaged wood
• Keep wood painted and well-maintained
• Replace wood siding with vinyl
• Choose hardwoods such as oak, maple, and ash for repairs and new construction
• Watch for signs of new holes and contact us immediately if they start to form