Combating Carpenter Bees & Bumble Bees: Expert Tips For Georgetown Homeowners

Bee Removal

When Georgetown homeowners are dealing with uninvited buzzing guests, it can be a bit confusing to figure out the difference between carpenter bees vs bumble bees. These two types of bees, although similar in many respects, are actually very different from one another. To make matters more complicated, neither type of bee is necessarily more destructive than the other, as the wrong identification could have fatal consequences for the population of your bee infestation.

To better understand the difference between carpenter bee vs bumble bee, and how to fight against them, we turn to F&W Pest Control, a leading Massachusetts pest control company based in Concord.

Introduction to Carpenter and Bumble Bees

The first, and most important, distinction that needs to be made between carpenter bees vs bumble bees, is that carpenter bees are solitary, while bumble bees are social. Solitary bees mean that they don’t live in communities or form colonies, as bumblebees do. Moreover, bumble bees tend to be much more docile than carpenter bees, as they’re more interested in actively foraging for pollen and nectar than they are in defending their nest or territory.

However, both species of bee can occasionally be harmful. Bumble bees can sting if they feel threatened or if they’re being handled by humans incorrectly, and while carpenter bees are less likely to sting, they do have the potential to cause structural damage to your home if they burrow into wood. Both bees also reproduce at high rates with massive populations that can cause annoyance for homeowners.

What Is the Difference Between Carpenter Bees and Bumble Bees?

Although many similarities exist between the two species of bee, there are some important differences to note which will help differentiate them, both in their lifespan and behaviour. The most obvious, of course, is size, with carpenter bees being significantly larger than a bumble bee. The coloration of the bee is also different, with the abdomens of bumblebees being primarily yellow in color, and the abdomens of carpenter bees having a blue and black pattern to them. Carpenter bees are also known to be much more active than bumble bees, buzzing around and hovering for longer periods of time.

Carpenter bees spend the winter in a state of hibernation, usually in sheltered areas like attics, sheds and other cavities in your home, while bumblebees are not known to hibernate in the same manner.

Identification, Treatment and Prevention

When it comes to identifying and treating the problem of carpenter bee vs bumble bee, the most common methods involve the use of physical barriers to prevent the bees from nesting, and the use of insecticides to get rid of the existing bees. If the bees are nesting in wood structures, then it’s important to remove the source of their food (wood) and replace it with a material that they cannot burrow into, such as metal or masonry.

Insecticide treatments are often best left in the hands of a professional pest control service, such as F&W Pest Control, who can assist in the correct identification, treatment and prevention of carpenter bee vs bumble bee infestations. F&W’s integrated pest management approach (IPM) provides the professional quality you need with the environmentally responsible quality of a DIY approach. Trust the expert exterminators at F&W to get rid of your mosquitoes this season. Get a free quote to start debugging your space today.

Conclusion

When it comes to safely getting rid of unwelcome carpenter and bumble bees, homeowners in Georgetown, MA can trust the pest control experts at F&W Pest Control. Physical barriers, insecticides, and the correct identification between carpenter bee vs bumble bee are all important parts of eradicating an infestation. With the help of F&W Pest Control, homeowners can get back to enjoying their backyard and eliminating the nuisance of bees.

Pest Control Near Me

Searching for an easy fix to your pest problems? Here at F&W Pest Control, our exterminators will treat an array of different pest issues including termites, bed bugs, mosquitoes, and more! Long-term protection is right at your reach with the help of our highly trained team of exterminators in the Greater Boston area. Don’t allow pests to take over your home, put your trust in our pest control services to ensure a pest-free home. With our help, you won’t have to spend any more free time implementing DIY extermination methods!

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