what if bees are still flying around eaves after vinyl siding has already been put on?
If you read our CARPENTERBEE CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn this bee will “over winter” or live in nests when it gets cold. Every spring they’ll want to emerge. If you covered any nests with the vinyl and failed to treat these nests, it’s quite likely there are bees emerging that are now able to move in and out of the vinyl and continue to use the siding underneath the vinyl as a nest location. This could have happened whether you put the siding up after they were hibernating or even if you put it up in the middle of the summer. You see, even in the summer there could have been some developing stages that have taken this long to finally mature and emerge.
Another reason they could be hanging around is because by design, this bee is drawn to decaying wood. They can smell it. So even though you have the vinyl up, underneath is what the bees can still detect and this will no doubt continue to draw them if left untreated.
Another reason they could be hanging around is that the vinyl is a certain color which is attracting male bees to hang around. I’ve also seen where certain plants can attract both males and females so it could be plants close, maybe up close to the house siding, so in fact it’s not the siding that’s doing the attracting.
Regardless of what is attracting them, all you need to do is treat with some DRIONE up under the siding all the way around the house. I would say to do this every spring and fall and you will no doubt keep away all the bees along with any other pests that vinyl siding tends to attract. Wasps, roaches, ants and many other pests like to get up under vinyl and the Drione is ideally designed for this area. The main reason is that it lasts so long. But the other big reason is because it’s applied in a form that’s a lot like smoke so it will penetrate the voids and spaces under the vinyl really well. This is critical for getting control of any nests that might be there.
Here are links to the article and the dust:
Carpenter Bee Control: www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control
guest says
Your info on treating was very helpful, but the bees have borne a hole in my vinyl siding and I was wondering if there was any difference in treatment on vinyl or wood? Do you think the tunnels are in the vinyl or have they found wood under the vinyl?
Thank You
admin says
@guest: No difference in what you need to do. Basically everything will be done the same; find the holes and treat them with Drione Dust. Next, cork them after a day or two. Lastly, spray Cypermethrin to insure new ones don’t come around.
Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:
Carpenter Bee Control: www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control
Clare says
My bees hover around the window area and the eaves of the house. How do I get up there to place Drione?
I’m a woman and I’m not going up there with a ladder – what are my options to get up and under the eaves of the home.
admin says
@Clare: You’ve got a couple of options. The first would be to get some Cypermethrin or NBS. Both are concentrates you mix with water and can be seen here:
Cyper: www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/viper-cypermethrin
NBS: www.bugspraycart.com/exempt/additive/nbs-paint-additive-16-oz
Use either product in a 6 Gallon Hose End Sprayer and because you’ll be using the power of your garden hose, you’ll be able to reach quite high.
6 Gallon Sprayer: www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/sprayers/gilmour-6g-385
Either the Cypermethrin or the NBS alone applied to the siding around the window might be strong enough to repel all the bees. But if not, you’ll need to also use the Drione which brings me to option two.
To apply the Drione, you’ll need to use a Dustick which can reach up 25+ feet. If you’re not comfortable doing the work, hire a handyman or service company but if you do, make sure they use the products we have listed in our Carpenter Bee Control Article if you want this problem resolved.
Drione: www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/drione-dust
Dustick: www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/dusters/dustick
Jennifer says
Hi…the carpenter bees are flying around the outside vent of our detached garage. There aren’t any visable holes inside or on the outside, I’ve looked all over. The garage is very close to the entrance of the house the bees have become very aggressive. I really really need to get rid of them quickly, my 10 year old is autistic, flying insects nearly cripple her with fear… these bees are now starting to dive towards us when leaving or entering the house… how can i treat the nest is i can’t find it…should i spray inside the vent? Or spray the inside of the garage? We rent this place and i have informed the landlord about this but no action has been taken so i need to take care of it quickly and cheaply! Please help!
admin says
Jennifer,
If you read our carpenter bee article, you’ll learn that male bees hang around where they “smell” females. And they are no doubt the ones you’re seeing; they tend to “dive” and act aggressively but in reality they’re just checking you out in case you might be another bee. Male bees don’t have stingers so they can’t sting. But they will frighten most anyone and will certainly be persistent.
To make them move away, you’ll need to apply the NBS or Cypermethrin listed in our article. Use 1 gallon of mixed material per 500 sq/ft to get repellent action that can last 3-4 weeks. This should keep them away from the area but if it doesn’t, you’ll need to treat the siding with Drione too.
Cypermethrin: www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/viper-cypermethrin
Drione: www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/drione-dust
More information on this pest can be found here:
www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control
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