Anyone have any tips/tricks for this one?
The little buggers have decided to setup shop on the north side of my house. I'm pretty confident this hasn't been the first infestation given the amount of destruction and the fact we've only been in the house about 11months.
The whole exterior is brick and aluminum siding, with a single lonely wooden strip that runs the full perimeter, where the siding meets the bottom of the soffit. They've bored into there and a few sections behind the aluminum fascia wrapping where there's a tiny bit of wood exposed.
Man they are persistent pests! I first attacked each hole I could get at with no-name carburetor cleaner. That gets them on contact, but you've got to contact them. A bunch dropped out of the holes like turds. A few hours later there was still some buzzing around up there.
Next I sprayed each hole out with liquid carpenter ant killer I had on hand (also says works on carpenter bees). Sprayed down the general area as well. Next day, still some buzzing around.
Did more poking around online and went to the store and picked up some Sevin powder. I used a turkey baster and blasted powder in each hole. There's STILL a couple of them buzzing around.
Last night I even tried blasting them with hot soapy water with my garden sprayer. This kills Yellow Jackets and pretty much any other bee on contact. Carpenter bees? Not so much. I think one even winked at me after that attempt.
I'm out of options at this point! You can't just plug the holes during breeding season because the babies will just chew there way out somewhere else! It's amazing how much wood they hog out in a short period of time.
If I ever get rid of them, plan is to fill/calk all destroyed areas, oil base primer and paint.
Joel
The little buggers have decided to setup shop on the north side of my house. I'm pretty confident this hasn't been the first infestation given the amount of destruction and the fact we've only been in the house about 11months.
The whole exterior is brick and aluminum siding, with a single lonely wooden strip that runs the full perimeter, where the siding meets the bottom of the soffit. They've bored into there and a few sections behind the aluminum fascia wrapping where there's a tiny bit of wood exposed.
Man they are persistent pests! I first attacked each hole I could get at with no-name carburetor cleaner. That gets them on contact, but you've got to contact them. A bunch dropped out of the holes like turds. A few hours later there was still some buzzing around up there.
Next I sprayed each hole out with liquid carpenter ant killer I had on hand (also says works on carpenter bees). Sprayed down the general area as well. Next day, still some buzzing around.
Did more poking around online and went to the store and picked up some Sevin powder. I used a turkey baster and blasted powder in each hole. There's STILL a couple of them buzzing around.
Last night I even tried blasting them with hot soapy water with my garden sprayer. This kills Yellow Jackets and pretty much any other bee on contact. Carpenter bees? Not so much. I think one even winked at me after that attempt.
I'm out of options at this point! You can't just plug the holes during breeding season because the babies will just chew there way out somewhere else! It's amazing how much wood they hog out in a short period of time.
If I ever get rid of them, plan is to fill/calk all destroyed areas, oil base primer and paint.
Joel
