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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate, Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker (Fred Griffin Real Estate)

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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I like that you do not want to kill them. 

You may find this article helpful.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees Naturally

If you don't want to click the link: 

Carpenter bees are pollinating insects, so you may want to learn how to get rid of carpenter bees naturally. There are several non-lethal means of getting rid of them. 

 

Carpenter bee traps are convenient to use and offer a non-toxic method of elimination. Buy or build a trap and hang it directly above the bee hole. Bees will enter the trap believing it to be a nest and be unable to escape. 

 

Non-toxic liquids that repel bees include solutions of water with citrus oil or almond oil. Use a spray bottle to apply around the bee holes to encourage the bees to leave the nest. 

 

Loud noises and vibrations are known to repel bees, so play loud music with the speakers next to the area of infestation for 2-3 days. In this case, you’ll want to fill the holes as soon as they’ve left. 

 

Tip: Professional pest exterminators may be able to relocate the bees without harming them, depending on the accessibility of the nest. 

May 11, 2022 02:04 PM
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Fill holes and paint the areas they have been occupying. They prefer to live softer, weathered wood with little or no paint coverage.

May 11, 2022 02:47 PM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Sorry, I need to get rid of some here as well.  Seems like a number of good alternatives have been posted.  Parked and Reading.

May 11, 2022 06:37 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Excellent suggestions from Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist and Alan May.

May 11, 2022 06:56 PM
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Your greatest danger with these pests is the eggs they will lay, which will hatch next year and then burrow out of the wood.

Find their bore holes, treat these.

I wouldnt worry much about getting stung since only the females have a stinger and they will not sting unless they feel they are under attack.

May 11, 2022 06:02 PM
Rainmaker
1,555,968
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

Agree with Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist    I had some and squirted them with a garden hose and got rid of where they were "nesting" and I also got rid of all the flowering plants I had in the proximity.

May 11, 2022 04:35 PM
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Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

I'm sure you've already searched the interwebs, but here's what my google search came up with.

https://www.homesandgardens.com/advice/how-to-get-rid-of-carpenter-bees

May 11, 2022 03:55 PM
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

I recall having these bees in an office years ago - it was nasty.  We called the pest control folks and they handled it.

May 11, 2022 02:43 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,163
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

What a great question that may not be easy to answer or tell the truth about. 

May 11, 2022 02:41 PM
Rainmaker
4,160,362
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Hello Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate it is a difficult job, try not to kill them.

May 11, 2022 02:19 PM
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Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

No answers for you and I'm going to read the article Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist suggested

May 12, 2022 11:34 AM
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Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have no idea, but I would call a beekeeper.  It appears others know more about them and have given some great advice!

May 12, 2022 05:03 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good thing Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist and Alan May offered some help, because I am clueless!

May 12, 2022 04:42 AM
Rainmaker
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Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Liz and Bill Spear have bees, they probably would have an idea what to do!

May 11, 2022 02:21 PM
Rainmaker
693,775
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

Great question and I enjoyed reading all of the answers, especially that last one by Tammy Lankford, who immortalized one in her rocking chair. 

May 12, 2022 01:28 PM
Rainer
378,517
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

My neighbor who has honey bees is happy we kill them.  This is a link he sent to the neighborhood a while back.  They really aren't "great pollinators"  and can harm the honey bee population. near the house we have traps and if they come there, they die.  Out in the back woods away from our neighbor we have wild flowers and some soft wood "nesting" materials to draw them there and away from the house and decks.

May 12, 2022 09:06 AM
Rainmaker
628,764
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

The carpenter bees were drilling holes in the wood on my front porch ceiling , someone told me to fill the holes and paint it sky blue. I did and no more bees , works like a charm if you can live with the color.

May 12, 2022 08:08 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

I'm parked and reading...  These buggers visit our home at this time every year too and just love the garage door header.  And it's freshly painted and last year's holes filled in.  Time to wrap it in vinyl! 

May 12, 2022 05:16 AM
Rainmaker
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Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

find the entrance to their nest and block it with tape.  They move on 

May 12, 2022 11:06 AM
Rainer
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Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

Paint or stain the exterior ASAP. Spray citrus oil daily where you see them hunting for a place to lay their eggs. They hate wind chimes because vibration bugs them. They leave a pheromone for the next generation to make a condo. You can make a frame with holes and gaps and hang it where they are looking for a condo and then move it to a tree on the edge of your property once they lay the eggs. There are many you can buy online. Buy a cheap art frame or old bird house and fill with bamboo shoots, pine cones, and old soft wood that you drill some holes. Hang it where they are buzzing around. You will see them clean up the holes and nest. In two weeks move the house away from your house. Carpenter bees pollinate flowers and food.  Thank you for not killing them, part of living in the country is being a good neighbor. A bee keeper won't take them as they are not the same "swarmers" as honey bees.

May 12, 2022 07:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

When I've had regular bees on my property, I've hired a guy to safely relocate them to the local farms.  He got the nest, queen and all then fumigated the area so they wouldn't return.

Maybe see if there is a bee guy in your area that will do that.

May 12, 2022 07:13 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I'd pick the most humane way out of all these answers. You don't want to make them madder with Beiber music at high decibels.

May 12, 2022 06:31 AM
Rainmaker
2,241,022
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

I like the "play loud music two or three days" method. Like Woodstock, bring in a lot of bands and make sure to record, market and profit from the CD whilst saying hasta luego to the flying carpenter buzzing bees Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate . Or here's another option, relocate to oh, I don't know.. say.. hey, what about Maine?

May 12, 2022 02:16 AM
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Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I hate the little buggers.  I know they have their place in the eco system, but sorry the honey bees and bumble bees are just going to have work overtime, but if they start drilling in my patio furniture as opposed to the pine "house" we hung on a tree for them to drill into (we replace every spring with a new/old one) then it's the swat or the spray.  

I do also spray peppermint oil (diluted with coconut oil) around my stair rails leading to the porch and the spindles when I see a hole.  I also sealed one of the little bastards in the hole in my rocking chair with wood putty.

May 12, 2022 12:45 PM
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763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Not since Dr. Kevorkian past away.

May 12, 2022 11:20 AM
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5,868,482
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

OH MY, but I wouldn't be playing loud music, as your neighbors probably won't be happy.  Good luck.

May 12, 2022 05:56 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Being kind to them is like being kind to termites, it seldom ends well.
I suggest treating the infested area with a 'wood repair' solution (contains resin, RTG is one brand) that will harden the wood fiber and compel the bees to find a softer place in the rafters. The vacated area will be prepared for the final wood restoration such as filler.
Some humor. I have a giant plant of produces GIANT purple blooms from May to Dec. These deep blooms attract BUMBLE BEES like the Pied Piper. Solicitors walking the drive to the front door run like hell when that first bomber bee flies by. My ring door bell camera shows how many window preplacement companies I did not get to talk to. It should be noted I mow that section of the lawn in early morning BEFORE the bumble bombers arrive. They WILL hurt you.

May 12, 2022 05:54 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I am happy you wrote this. They are into the woodwork around my parents front door and making a mess

May 13, 2022 09:25 AM
Rainmaker
901,535
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

That's a job for the pest control guys. Although, I like the effort some of you are making. If it were my personal home (not a listing) I might try some of these remedies. However, time is of the essence when it comes to a listing.

May 16, 2022 04:53 AM