Here in North Carolina we have a lot of problems with carpenter bees. They bore into all exterior wood surfaces and deposit their larvae. This creates lots of pinky sized holes all over freshly built structures, and sometimes draws piliated woodpeckers who DIG the larvae out. I have been discussing with folks if any wood exists that they are not attracted to. I have seen them bore into pressure treated, cedar, and freshly borax treated pine. Does any one know about locust or anything else? Thanks
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Badmitton racket, tennis racket they don't like. Anything else they chew.
Joe H
look up the thread here at taunton, but over in "house chat" on carpenter bees. no hints about wood they'd dislike as i recall, but someone said they'd had success discouraging them dabbing a homemade salve in their bores: vaseline mixed with hot pepper powders, like cayenne.
Given a choice, I've found they much prefer softer wood. Love the tulip poplar and pine, leave the oak alone. Silicone caulk works well to entomb. Haven't yet had one chew its way out, unlike with latex caulk. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen a hole in either walnut or black locust, both of which I've used frequently for exterior wood. Honey locust I have seen with holes.
Joe's method works well, practice your swing. I have fun with my BB gun, occasionally hit one on the fly. Visited one house they were so numerous a shotgun seemed more appropriate.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!