Carpenter bees are not social bees, as most bees are. They are solitary insects, however many may infest the same piece of wood. In the spring the females drill a perfect ½ inch hole in a piece of wood or extends an existing gallery. New galleries are usually 6" to 8" long and in untreated wood. Galleries used over several years may extend a few feet. The males may be seen hovering around nest areas fending off rival males. Although they can be very intimidating, they are relatively docile insects.

These insects look at first sight like bumblebees except their abdomen is hairless and shiny. The best way to identify them is by their distinct flying pattern, especially around a nest area. The males fly very fast and stop and hover like a helicopter until a rival male flies close, than they’re off again. After chasing away the other male, they return to their hovering position. In an area containing several nesting females, the males’ activity resembles WWII dogfighting.

The actual nest or gallery is usually not that damaging to a home unless there are numerous nests. However, once the larvae hatch and woodpeckers find them, they usually tear chunks of wood off to get at the larvae. Also, woodpeckers seldom work quietly. The males can also be very annoying to anyone who walks close to a nesting female. If a nest is not eliminated, the young often infest the same piece of wood or the same area, so in time activity will increase. Personally, the worst example I saw was 27 nests in two pieces of wood totaling about 24 feet long. You could see the activity outside the affected area from one half block away.