Getting Rid of Carpenter Bees in a Deck Stringer?

I am trying to get rid of carpenter bees in a deck stringer. I was reading the article on carpenter bees, and wonder should WD40 be used as soon as a carpenter bee hole is noticed in decking? How will I know when there are no more bees in the wood? Also when can the holes be covered with steel wool or calking? Help!

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poehere
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts

June 11, 20200 found this helpful

Best Answer

The first step is to try and kill the bees. Normally the male bees will be outside to guard the nest. You can use a standard stinging insect killer. During the night when the females and other bees are in the hole you will need to spray the nest. Use the same stinging insect killer that you were using before. You can also use a powered insect killer that they get on them and track back to the nest. This one isn't that necessary but if you have a lot of them then I would use both.

You should do this during the day and each night for around a week to make sure you have gotten all of them and are not seeing anymore of them. Now you should seal up the hole to prevent them from doing more damage. Wait a bit and check this again. Make sure all of them are dead. If they are not all dead repeat the steps until you've killed them all. Once all of them are gone seal up the hole for good so they can't come back.

cybergrannie
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks

June 13, 20200 found this helpful

Best Answer

Probably a good idea to contact a professional as your deck will last a lot longer if it is cleaned and refinished. They will eliminate the carpenter bees before treating the wood.

I have dealt with carpenter bees in the past and it is very difficult to kill every one of these critters and just when you think it's all over; up crops another one that somehow got away.
The can also hide their holes in difficult to see places so I'm hoping your professional does a good job.

Ana
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts

June 10, 20200 found this helpful

Here are few tips on controlling the Carpenter Bee - www.prevention.com/.../

mizliz730

June 11, 20200 found this helpful

Thank you for your valuable info on carpenter bees. I have evaluated the situation, and decided to contact a professional, since the deck is only 5 years old, and wood needs to be cleaned and stained.

The stringers are not painted, and bal of deck is Trex.

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