Carpenter Bees

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Well it is that time of the year again. Several weeks ago I started seeing Carpenter Bees flying around our house. Didn't pay much attention. Then last week I hardly saw any so thought it is past their drilling season. Now this past week we were in the 70s and 80s.
Well I was out yesterday on our back deck and saw more Carpenter Bees thsn I ever saw in my life. They are trying to drill everywhere and fighting with each other.
I got (8) with the Tennis racket and (4) with Bee spray. It is time to break our the 22 with Snake/Rat shot. Shot a whole bunch in previous year. I use a rifle with iron sights. Have to let them get out about 15' to get a good pattern on them (shoot while they hover). Best wat is to shoot a piece of paper and when you get about a Cantaloupe size group - That's your killing distance. (make sure that you don't shoot your house)!

 

[Sealesniper]

We use badminton rackets and have tried the brown grocery plastic bags. They seem to be working. Get 8-10 plastic grocery bags, and stuff all of them into a brownish colored plastic bag. Make it look like a hornets nest and hang it under the eaves or porch where the bees are. Bees hide from hornets. I still see bees, but they are not drilling or hovering around the shop and porch. If they do come back, will smack them again.

A few years ago I sprayed all the bottom boards with Bifen and it killed them all dead, but needs to be reapplied after a couple of rains, unless under a roof line.

 

[Mark37082]

They are especially thick this year. Tennis racket is working well for me, but I think I'm developing tennis elbow. My wife thinks I'm nuts swinging wildly at these pests. Killed at least 20 yesterday with a couple of doubles in the mix.

 

[1mechanic]

Get some pyrethrin mix it in a pump up sprayer and spray under the eves and wherever you don't want them. It will last about 3-4 months. It's not a real deadly chemical doesn't kill them unless sprayed on directly but it will make them go away somewhere else. It also works against other insects to have them not hang around, like mosquitoes, wasps, fleas, flies and etc.

 

[sable tireur]

Tennis or badminton elbow got you down but those darned wasps or flies are still terrorizing your home?

Bug-A-Salt:

Amazon product ASIN B089CDCCR1
Tons of fun, excellent practice and non-toxic.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Tennis or badminton elbow got you down but those darned wasps or flies are still terrorizing your home?

Bug-A-Salt:

Amazon product ASIN B089CDCCR1
Tons of fun, excellent practice and non-toxic.

I looked at these a few years ago and still currently. They are only effective about 2-3'.

 

[sable tireur]

Actually, we had several placed strategically around the shop in Georgia for those obnoxious flies. We achieved kill shots out to about 10 feet consistently. Usually though, the big, slow moving ones could be approached stealthily down to about 3 feet. It was carnage!

 

[brcfo_outdoors]

I used to kill them with a tennis racquet as a kid and my parents would always get mad at me. I think neither of us knew what they were at the time. It makes me happy to know everyone else kills them with racquets too.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

I went outside this morning and did a pattern test for the 22LR Shot Shell #12. I shot Carpenter bees out to 15' with my father in law's 22Mag rifle,, but now using a 22LR.
I just tested 22LR CCI Shot Shell # 12 and the best pattern in both a Browning Buckmark pistol and a 10/22 rifle was 6-7' away getting a 6" Pattern. At 10' it was a 10" pattern so the 6-7' is best.
The bees were out in full force today. We have two decks on two different levels so a lot of wood. It is stained, but not the underside.
I killed 12 with bee spray and then went to the BuckMark. I made the Rule to only shoot doubles or Tripples. No Singles. I shot 32 before stopping. Only have one box of 20 shotshells left.
I waited for one bee to land on the wood and waited for another to come in for a fight. When two were within 6" of each other I would shoot. I was only 6-7' away. Got (2) Tripples and (13) doubles.
Sometimes when shooting them in the air the would "Helicopter" into the ground after being hit!
Now I need to go to the front deck.

 

[1mechanic]

Another thing you can do is wait for night when they go in to sleep get some spray foam and seal ''em up.

 

[Muddyboots]

Ever try one of these? I use it in boat to kill biting flies. Kind of fun to hear SNAP!

Electronic Fly & Insect Swatter

Amazing deals on this Electronic Fly & Insect Swatter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Mark37082]

Another thing you can do is wait for night when they go in to sleep get some spray foam and seal ''em up.

My house is turning into Swiss cheese. Getting on a ladder and trying to get to their holes is challenging.

 

[Muddyboots]

Plus I think you are under gunned a bit for carpenter bees. Bet you can take them out long range with these bad boys...

 

[jessej]

bow and arrow is fun. Just don't get caught up in the battle and forget where you are.