Talk about the buzz on carpenter bees!
It appears that everyone has a thought about what to do about them, including a few folks who don't understand what the buzz is about.
Two weeks ago, I responded to a question asking how to handle carpenter bees. My response fell into the "live and let live" category, recognizing firsthand that sometimes the cure can be more troublesome than the problem.
The first reply to the column was from a woman who couldn't understand why the question was being asked in the first place. She said she'd read somewhere that bumblebees and honeybees were disappearing, and that carpenter bees are assuming their pollination duties.
Bottom line: By killing the bees, you do in the planet.
Hers was the best response that fell into the "why the buzz?" category.
Here's a small sample of the others:
"Here is a nontoxic way to get rid of carpenter bees. Buy a bag of diatomaceous earth, a turkey baster, and throwaway plastic gloves. Put on the gloves. Use the turkey baster to fill the holes made by the bees with the diatomaceous earth. Then seal the holes with putty. When the larvae are born, they will be torn to shreds by the diatomaceous soil. Use the turkey baster only for the diatomaceous earth. Keep the gloves for next time or throw them away. Wash your hands well with lots of soap and water."
"Just thought I'd note that in our neighborhood, if you do not take care of the carpenter bees, the problem escalates. For us, it escalated in three ways. First, as the previous owner did nothing to deter the carpenter bees, our eaves were turned into Swiss cheese and had to be replaced. Second, the one-quarter-inch bee holes became 21/4-inch holes when the woodpeckers went hunting for the bees' eggs. Finally, the woodpecker holes made great nesting areas for small birds. The birds can't be touched legally. Once eggs have been laid, you have to wait for the hatchlings to leave the nest before plugging the hole. Painting has helped us immensely. There may be some bee activity, but considerably less."
