>I realize this is a Honey bee-list but I need a little help with another
>bee problem.
>
>I have a patient who called me about Carpenter Bees.  Seems they are
>drilling holes into shutters that adorn her front house just like
>woodpeckers. Nice piles of sawdust. One local extreminator had been little
>help with the problem (seems they know alot about termites but little about
>this species of insect).
>
>Are there any easy ways to rid a structure of these wood eating insects?
>
>Thanks for any input.
>
>
>Paul Cronshaw, D.C.
>Cyberchiro and Hobbyist Beekeeper
>Santa Barbara, CA  USA
 
 
Why destroy the Carpenter bees?
If you are talking about the"osmia lignaria" aka Orchard Mason Bee, a
benevolent,non agressive insect and powerful pollinator, why not provide
housing? 250 females are said to be able to pollinate a two acre apple
orchard. A 4 by 4 or 6 by 6 block of wood with 1/4 inch holes drilled about
3 inch deep in a 1/2 inch pattern is readily accepted when hung in a
shetered place(under the eaves). Hopefully they will accept the ready made
house over the yet to be build one.
 
Ref.
 
Bekey and Klostermeyer, "Orchard Mason Bee"
Washington State University Extension Service
Bulletin 0922, July 1981
 
Griffin, Brian "The Orchard Mason Bee"
Knox Cellars Publishing, 1993
 
I hope this helps some.
Urs Schaufelbuhl
Urs Schaufelbuhl
have a :-) day