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.
Impaired driver taken to hospital then jail after crash
Gov. Braun announces plan for new, larger campground at McCormick’s Creek State Park
Governor Braun proclaims Indiana Rail Safety Week September 21-27
State unemployment rate remains below national average
Indiana weekly gas price update
Riverton Parke looks to continue momentum
Parke County Community Foundation awards funds for Ritz renovations
USDA announces 2026 and 2027 enrollment for key price and revenue safety net programs, first base acre increase in two decades
U.S. Marshals aid local law enforcement to find suspect
Gov. Braun continues to deliver on promise to keep local governments whole during gas tax holiday
Indiana state forests to offer open houses
Benefit ride for Alisha Reynolds on October 24
Former Roachdale Town Marshal sentenced to probation
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance announces 2027 summer internship program
Read your FEMA letter carefully
Road closure to impact U.S. 36 in Parke and Putnam counties
