Late April and May ushers in the emergence of carpenter bees.
By first glance, the carpenter bee looks very much like a bumble bee with a couple major differences. One being that on a carpenter bee there is a dark smooth spot on its back with little yellow covering or hairs. The bumble bee has more yellow on its body and is quite aggressive packing repeated stings from males and females.
Carpenter bees seem very aggressive but most likely the aggressive behavior is to divert an intruder from areas where they are working. In fact, carpenter bee males do not have the ability to sting however, the females are glad to use their stinging ability as a protection if touched or bothered.
Carpenter bees are wood destroying insects while bumble bees are not. A carpenter bee drills about a one-half-inch hole in wood to tunnel in to lay eggs in a safe place for eggs to develop into adults. The cycle starts all over again from year to year unless a treatment is done.
Carpenter bees do not consume wood for nourishment but instead use the wood as protection to insure the continuance of the species.
Controlling carpenter bees can be achieved by treating each emergence hole in the wood with a pesticide labeled for carpenter bees and untimely sealing the hole.
The most important tip is to don’t procrastinate on treatment. Start as soon as the bees are seen.
Many times, a repeat treatment may need to be done again in August to early September to break the life cycle.
Indiana FSSA announces results of HCBS attendant care audits - $200 Million in improper payments
Applications being accepted for Governor’s 2026 Century and Half Century Business Awards
Indiana BMV extending hours for primary election
$675 million impact reported from initial Regional Economic Development funding
PHMS Amazing Shake
Parke Heritage students in competition at FFA District Contest
Indiana's February unemployment rate below national average
Indiana hiring five county executive directors in training positions
Be on the lookout for farm equipment on the road
SW Parke projected to save over a million dollars closing Montezuma Elementary
Changes coming to South Vermillion School Corporation's cell phone policy
Crawfordsville man faces list of felony child sex charges
Domestic incident results in arrest in Parke County
Clinton man nabbed in burglary case
Indiana releases update to the State Nutrient Reduction Strategy
Bridge closure to impact State Road 32 over Prairie Creek in Fountain County
