Hello,
I’d like to do the ceiling of my front porch in eastern red cedar. I know that carpenter bees (i.e. large bumble bees) will bore holes through pine and nest in the cavities.
Will carpenter bees “attack” cedar as well?
If so, I was thinking of treating the wood with a borate solution (e.g. BoraCare) [spray on application]. I’ve used this solution for a variety of other 6 legged critters. Do you think it will work against carpenter bees? [I’ve seen pressure treated lumber turn them away but they are very persistent].
Thanks,
Roger <><
Replies
The bees prefer the sunnyside of the house. It seems nothing wood is guaranteed foolproof against them as I've watched them frequent both CCA and ACQ pressuretreated wood. A borate solution is always recommended and periodically if they keep coming around.
I neglect any attention to the cedar siding on the southern side of my house this year, having meant to apply a new coating of a transparent oil. Never had a bee around the place.
Last week had a ladder up and there she was, the telltale perfect round hole into the cedar. I'm thinking if I'd coated this year it would have been enough of a deterrent to have sent them elsewhere.
The idea is to keep them from nesting around the house by forcing them to move on to happier hunting grounds. If they get settled in then it becomes time for serious war.
Try a search for carpenter bees in the search function on the lower left of your monitor screen as there have been many posts dealing with the bees in the past, usually every spring.
Cheers
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
Roger - bees are eating the cedar ceiling (south side of the house) of my dads porch. The best tool is a tennis racket.