Bumble Bees

[romegadave]

Having seen all the bug specialists since Flintknappers thread, I was wondering what you folks do about those pesky wood boring bumble bees? Its that time of the year here in Georgia and they are everywhere--been spraying wasp spray into the holes but buying can after can is getting $$$$$$$$. Wood putty just traps them and they just bore out another spot--Thanks, Dave

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by romegadave

Having seen all the bug specialists since Flintknappers thread, I was wondering what you folks do about those pesky wood boring bumble bees? Its that time of the year here in Georgia and they are everywhere--been spraying wasp spray into the holes but buying can after can is getting $$$$$$$$. Wood putty just traps them and they just bore out another spot--Thanks, Dave

Hi Dave,

We have Carpenter Bee's around here too.

They can be kind of hard to get rid of depending on where they are nesting.

I use conventional wasp spray to kill the females (in the nest/bored hole) and also the males (usually flying around).

The eggs in the nest are usually too far back to hit with spray unless applied from my back-pack sprayer.

"Dione" powder will kill the larvae later when they hatch if you can get it into the hole and then seal it up.

The males have a black face, and although they will "buzz" you, they are harmless because they have no stinger.

OTOH, the females "yellow face" can pop you pretty good, so douse them down first, and don't worry about the males.

Usually, they are fairly concentrated...so you kill a bunch of them in just one spot.

Remember:

Males (black face)= No worry (kill them at your leisure).

Females (yellow face)= Make you cry for your mommy (so kill them first and bring help).

Nest (hole bored in wood...makes a turn)= Lots 'O little eggs that will become larvae months later (kill them with Dione dust).

Get after them!

[romegadave]

Thank ya Mr. Knapper---will keep on spraying--also use a squash/handball racket--makes for an interesting and very fullfilling sport

*I've also used one of those "grabbers" which has the push button to snake into the hole and grab em!

[wobble]

Completely, non-professional opinion on carpenter bee control, and make sure they are carpenter bees and not bumble bees:

If you decide to go the insecticide route, you need to take a rather systematic approach to controlling carpenter bees- tracking down each of the active galleries and dealing with them.

First off, read the label and apply at label rates (more is not better).

Identify active galleries where females have nests, these are usually holes that are marked with waste (see picture), waste could accumulate on the ground below the hole, or you observe carpenter bees coming and going from the them. Inactive/abandoned galleries are used by the bees for overwintering.

If you can, try to do your control efforts at night, as the females will more than likely be home and not out foraging.

If you are using a liquid formulation, keep in mind that it will probably quickly soak into untreated wood, minimizing any residual activity. Residual activity is a good thing, as most insecticides are contact poison and you want the bees to encounter the chemical. With a liquid, you may be able to impregnate a cotton ball with the insecticide and insert it into the gallery. Alternatively, applying an insecticidal powder or wettable dust is a better way to maximize the contact. I am not sure what products are currently licensed and available to the public in your state, so I am not sure if powder or dust formulations are available. After application, wait a day or two before closing/sealing up the hole(s).

As always, apply at label rates and take the label specified safety precautions. Homeowners have a tendency to over apply and interpret straightforward labels in rather creative ways.

UGA or maybe you county ag department should have an extension specialist that can provide more specific information

[romegadave]

Thanks Wobble--I like the cotton ball idea--will soak and kill!!!