How do I get rid of carpenter bees?

[Huntn]

You would think. The entire deck was just power washed and repainted a week ago too. Thought that might do the trick, I was dead wrong.

I assume the underside was not. Where were these bee holes at? Just curious.

 

[iBlazed]

I assume the underside was not. Where were these bee holes at? Just curious.

In the columns of the railings. They started drilling again as soon as the paint was dry.

 

[impulse462]

I agree call a professional. I have been terrified of bees since I was 4 years old. I have never gotten stung by one however because if I'm ever near one, I always run away no matter what is happening. I don't know what I can do to get over my fear of bees (and insects in general), but I really don't like it (or them for that matter)

 

[tgara]

Carpenter bees are a problem in the Northeast. Our house had them too. They like warm areas, and primarily bore into the soffits from the bottom edge, then turned 90 degrees and bored parallel to the soffit itself. They lay larvae in the holes. And guess who likes yummy larvae? Birds! Soon after the larvae are laid, birds come and peck on the soffit to get at the larvae, so the soffits look like they've been hit with buckshot.

We simply call an exterminator annually. A professional treatment was far more effective than my efforts to get rid of the pests. For a couple hundred bucks, they keep the carpenter bees away, and that reduces the soffit damage from all the wildlife!