Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees are large, robust bees about 3/4 to 1 inch long that closely resemble bumblebees. The key difference is their abdomen — carpenter bees have a shiny, hairless black abdomen, while bumblebees have a fuzzy, hairy abdomen. Males have a yellow or white face patch and are often seen hovering aggressively near nesting sites, but they cannot sting. Females can sting but rarely do unless directly handled.

Look for perfectly round holes about 1/2 inch in diameter bored into unfinished or weathered wood surfaces — fascia boards, deck railings, porch ceilings, window trim, and wooden outdoor furniture. You will notice coarse sawdust (frass) on surfaces below the entry holes. Males hover aggressively near nest sites, diving at people who approach. Staining below holes from yellowish-brown fecal deposits is another telltale sign.

At Myrtle Beach Pest Control, we treat active carpenter bee galleries by applying residual insecticidal dust deep into the tunnel system using specialized applicators. After treatment, we allow 24-48 hours for returning bees to contact the product before sealing holes with wood putty or dowel plugs. Exterior wood surfaces are then treated with a residual insecticide to deter new boring activity. For long-term prevention in our subtropical coastal climate, we recommend painting or staining all exposed wood surfaces to protect them from carpenter bees.

Paint or stain all exterior wood surfaces — carpenter bees strongly prefer unfinished wood and rarely bore into painted or stained surfaces. In the Grand Strand's coastal environment, plan on repainting or restaining exterior wood every 2-3 years, as salt air and UV exposure degrade protective finishes faster than inland. Fill existing holes with steel wool and wood putty after treatment by MBPC. Replace softwood trim with composite, PVC, or fiber cement alternatives that are impervious to boring and hold up better in the coastal climate of Myrtle Beach. Hang carpenter bee traps near previously active nesting sites in early spring — along the coast, activity can begin as early as late February.

Carpenter bees prefer soft, unfinished, or weathered wood for nesting in the Grand Strand area. They bore perfectly round entrance holes and then turn 90 degrees to tunnel along the grain, creating galleries up to 10 inches long. Myrtle Beach's coastal humidity and salt spray cause exterior wood to weather and soften faster than inland areas, making homes particularly attractive to carpenter bees. Cedar and cypress trim — popular choices in coastal construction for their natural rot resistance — ironically become prime targets when their protective finish deteriorates in the salt air. Favorite targets include fascia boards, deck railings, porch ceilings, and wooden outdoor furniture. These bees return to the same nesting sites year after year, expanding existing galleries, and the Grand Strand's mild winters mean carpenter bees emerge earlier in spring than their inland counterparts.

Peak activity: Spring-Summer