TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE

Many of us think of bees as something bad -- annoying or even harmful if we're unfortunate enough to be stung by one.  In actuality, there are no bad bees, only bees that do bad things, like those that bore into decks or wood trim (carpenter bees are known to do this).  When this happens, insecticides which kill or prevent bees from returning for several weeks can be used to eliminate the problem.  

Carpenter bees prefer to attack wood which is bare, weathered and unpainted. Therefore, the best way to deter the bees is to paint all exposed wood surfaces, especially those which have a history of being attacked. Wood stains and preservatives are less reliable than painting, but will provide some degree of repellancy versus bare wood. To further discourage nesting, garages and outbuildings should be kept closed when carpenter bees are actively searching for nesting sites.

Liquid sprays of carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos (Dursban), or a synthetic pyrethroid (e.g., permethrin or cyfluthrin) can be applied as a preventive to wood surfaces which are attracting bees. Residual effectiveness of these insecticides is often only 1-2 weeks, however, and the treatment may need to be repeated. Tunnels which have already been excavated are best treated by puffing an insecticidal dust (e.g., 5 percent carbaryl) into the nest opening. Aerosol sprays labeled for wasp or bee control also are effective. Leave the hole open for a few days after treatment to allow the bees to contact and distribute the insecticide throughout the nest galleries. Then plug the entrance hole with a piece of wooden dowel coated with carpenter's glue, or wood putty. This will protect against future utilization of the old nesting tunnels and reduce the chances of wood decay.

Most bees, however, provide a valuable service to agriculture (and people) through pollination.  One mouthful in three of the foods you eat depends on pollination by bees!  There are several types of bees that help pollinate:  honey bees, bumble bees, and yes, even carpenter bees.  Crops from nuts to vegetables, and as diverse as alfalfa, apple, cranberry, pumpkin and sunflower all require pollination by bees.

Unfortunately, however, there aren't enough bees to go around because of a parasite that is killing them, and the problem could eventually affect the availability and price of produce.  So while it is certainly important to get rid of bees destroying your property, remember that bees are an important part of the process for maintaining a bountiful food supply, and need to be protected if we want to be able to continue enjoying many of our favorite foods!