Several years ago, I resided my own home with 1×6, T&G cedar siding, using cedar for the soffits, fascia and trim boards. The entire project sealed with an oil based stain/preservative. The following spring (around May) I found several holes in the trim and soffit boards, a perfect 3/8″ dia. I also observed several bees hanging around and laughingly made a comment that I thought I had carpenter bees attacking. To my amazement it turns out that this creature does exist!
Some research suggested injecting a powdered insecticide into the nest holes and filling them in the fall. Also, spraying a liquid insecticide over the entire area where protection was needed.
Last spring I tried this approach, not with much success. With spring coming up fast, can anyone come up with a more effective method to my nightmare?
Replies
Jeez, I thought this thread was about me, oops.
A liquid or powdered insecticide placed directly into the entrance holes and then filling the holes after 24 hours is your best bet.
Spraying the infested area doesn't do much good, since the bees are not actually eating the wood.
Just keep after them and watch for new entry holes. Spray them and fill them as soon as you can.
I've been told by an exterminator that the bees develop a genetic imprint that brings them back to a certain location for generations (hey, just like deer trails!)
I beleive you will be doing battle for perpetuity......get some badminton rackets......makes great summertime fun!!
Eric
My dad has western red cedar board and batten on his house. Same problem. It's in northern Virginia. I took a look and was going to do some research but he pissed me of so I never got around to it.
Plus I know he sprayed it all with insecticide mixed in a linseed oil something. I told him he was just speeding up his ending and probably not bothering the pests much.
What I saw were those perfect round holes, but I'm thinking it's a bee/wasp looking beast. I'm also thinking that it's a single house for eggs, then capped till they emerge.
First thing Identify the beast. Then identify the life cycle. Then figure out how to interrupt it.
Unfortunately for man and the white oaks in the N Va area it's been a loosing battle against the gypsy moths, not totally but still unfortunate for many nice trees.
Clay
Zen,
The bees are bad but the woodpeckers going after the larva are worse. They excavate the tunnels and destroy the siding. You can spray with sevin, diazanon, or dursban if you can find it. Spray only last a few weeks. Spot spraying with wasp spray up the hole works also.
ohmmmm,
KK
Fiber cement siding.
D*mn! I had no idea. Do folks in the south have dixon bees?