Don't panic! Carpenter Bees seem very agressive and will dart back and forth like they are going to attack but they don't. They do not sting. As far as I know there is no way of repeling them but they can be controlled when they are drilling their holes for nests. In soft wood you will see approximately one half inch holes that look as if they have been drilled. These are made by the Carpenter Bee as a nesting hole. They cut a hole one to one and one half inches deep and then make a right angle turn and cut another two to three inches. They capture insects, place them in the hole, lay an egg on the body and seal the hole at that point. They repeat the operation until the hole is full. The eggs hatche and the larva that hatches uses the insect as food. While the bees do not attack humans they can cause structural damage to the wood. Purdue Cooperative Extension Service recommends using powdered Sevin, an insecticide, and blowing it into the hole with the type of duster that is used in gardening. The bee enters the hole and gets the insecticide dust on them and dies. If the bees are not causing damage in good structures it is probably best to leave them alone. They do help reduce the population of other insects and are therefore helpful. Hope this is some help to those who are having problems. Charlie - - "One today is worth two tomorrows" Ben Franklin (0 0) ===============================================o00o==(_)==o00o== Charles R. Bradley Extension Educator Marshall County Extension Office 112 W. Jefferson Street Room 304 Plymouth, IN 46563 Phone: 219-935-8545 Fax: 219-935-8612 E-mail: [log in to unmask] ================================================================