Buzz
Carpenter bees are some of the most effective pollinators and are quite charming, but they can be a problem if you or a loved one have an allergy. Instead of using insecticides, you can try natural solutions with items you already have at home. By altering the environment around your home, carpenter bees will often leave quickly. Here are a few strategies, ranging from mild to more intense, to help you start dealing with them!
Steps
Clear away fallen leaves and trim the bushes.
Carpenter bees prefer soft spots to build their nests, so start by clearing fallen leaves and debris around your home. They also dislike hot areas, so pulling weeds or raking leaves to eliminate shade can encourage them to move. If the area becomes too hot, they will leave.
- Carpenter bee nests are typically underground, so you might not find their actual hive. However, you may notice small holes leading to their tunnels, about 1.3 cm in diameter. If they nest beneath a porch or patio, you could see the hive, which looks like a mound of wax fragments.
Seal the entrance to the bee nest.
Fill the holes leading to the underground bee nest with soil. Compact the earth so the bees cannot easily enter or exit. If they have nested under a porch and enter through a hole in the wood, seal the hole with a material like caulk.
- If the bees have made their home under a porch, they may search for another exit, so you will need to keep an eye on the area after sealing the hole. It's possible you'll need to block any new entrances they find.
Redirect the bees' entrance to their nest.
Insert a flexible tube into one of the bee nest entrances. You can then adjust the tube to point in any direction you want the bees to exit from. For example, if a nest is located near your patio and you want the bees to move farther away, you can use a long tube along the yard and position the tube's opening in an area less frequented by people.
- Place potted plants, rocks, or flowers around the new entrance to guide the bees. They will recognize the new direction as their new entry and exit point, abandoning the original one.
Soak the ground with water.
Turn on the spray nozzle or use a hose to soak the ground. Carpenter bees nest underground, meaning they burrow through loose soil to build their hives. By flooding the area, you can drown the bees or force them to relocate to a drier spot.
- You may need to water the area every few days until the bees leave.
Remove any birdhouses where the bees have made their nest.
Use a sponge to seal the entrance of the birdhouse and remove it. Wait until nighttime when all the bees have returned to their nest inside the birdhouse. Stuff a sponge into the entrance hole so the bees can't escape. The next day, you can remove the birdhouse and move it at least 1 km away from your home. Once it's safe, remove the sponge so the bees can fly out when they become active.
- Bees do not fly at night, which is why you should wait until the next day to remove the sponge. If you're in a hurry to relocate the hive, you can contact a pest control company to relocate the bees from the birdhouse to their own hive.
- Wear long sleeves and pants tucked into socks, then put on gloves before handling the birdhouse.
Spray soapy water on the bee nest.
Mix 60 ml of liquid soap with 4 liters of water. You can use laundry soap or dish soap. Stir until the soap dissolves in the water, then pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the soapy water onto the area where the bees have built their nest during the night when they are typically inside their hive. The soap will dehydrate the bees, eventually killing them.
- Repeat this process for several days until the bees are completely dealt with.
Mix a bee-repellent solution using vinegar.
Mix vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio in a spray bottle. Tighten the cap and shake well to combine the solution. Then, spray the mixture on the areas where you've seen bees, preferably at night when they are typically in their hives. The strong odor of vinegar will drive the bees away.
- You can use any type of vinegar available – white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even wine vinegar!
Prepare a gentle citrus solution to repel bees.
Simmer lemon and orange juice with their peels in water for about 10 minutes. Pour water into a small pot, add the juice and peels of 1-2 lemons or oranges, then simmer the mixture over medium heat for about 10 minutes to release the oils. Let the mixture cool, then transfer it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the area where the bees are nesting. Bees dislike strong scents and will leave the area.
- Wait until night, when the bees return to their hive, to spray the solution. Wear protective gear to avoid bee stings.
- Repeat this method daily until the bees have left.
Mix a fragrant bee repellent solution using soap and essential oils.
Fill a spray bottle with water and add a few drops of dish soap. Then, add several drops of clove, peppermint, cinnamon, or orange essential oil to the water. Tighten the cap and shake it well before spraying the solution in areas where you've seen bees, including around your yard and under the ground where their nests are located.
- Carpenter bees dislike these potent scents and will quickly leave the area.
Avoid disturbing endangered bee species.
It is illegal to harm rusty-patched bumblebees. You may have heard that bee populations are declining, particularly the rusty-patched bumblebee. This species is protected by endangered species laws, so you will need a permit if you want to remove their nest. Rusty-patched bumblebees are found in the northeastern and midwestern United States.
- Rusty-patched bumblebees resemble regular carpenter bees but have rust-colored patches on their backs.
Hire a professional service if you're unable to handle the situation yourself.
Contact a pest control company to see if they handle carpenter bees. Ask whether they will relocate the bees or exterminate them. If extermination is required, they may need to dig into the ground to remove the entire hive.
- If you're in the U.S., you might need to spend several hundred dollars to hire a professional service for bee nest removal. It's a good idea to call them as soon as you notice the bees so they can address the problem more efficiently.
Advice
- If you decide to leave the bees in their nest until they die, usually within a few months, it's recommended to rope off or put up a fence around the area to keep people away.
Warning
- Never pour gasoline or bleach into a carpenter bee nest. This poses a fire hazard and can contaminate the soil.
