• PEST LIBRARY
Carpenter Bees
A large, hovering bee near the eaves, or a round hole in the fascia.
• WHAT YOU SEE
A large, fuzzy bee hovering right at your face near the eaves, or a row of clean, round holes drilled into the fascia board that weren't there last year. The hovering is the part people remember most, since it feels aggressive even though it isn't. Sawdust below one of the holes is usually the other sign, a fine pile on the ground or a windowsill underneath the gallery.
• WHAT WE SEE
The bee hovering at your face is a male, and males can't sting at all, they're just territorial and curious. The female is the one doing the actual damage: she drills a near-perfect round hole into bare or weathered wood and excavates a gallery behind it to lay eggs. Left alone, woodpeckers looking for the larvae inside often do more damage to the fascia than the bees themselves, since they'll tear open the wood to get at them. Untreated galleries also get reused and expanded year after year by new females.
• HOW WE FIX IT
Each active gallery gets treated and plugged, which handles both the current occupant and discourages reuse next season. We check the eaves and fascia on every quarterly visit specifically because carpenter bees return to the same wood. Painted or stained wood is much less attractive to them than bare wood, so touching up exposed fascia is a real piece of long-term prevention we'll mention if it applies. This is typically an add-on service, since carpenter bee damage is specific to certain kinds of exterior trim rather than a whole-house issue.
• WHEN THEY SHOW UP
Carpenter bees are most active in spring, when overwintered adults emerge and females start drilling new or existing galleries. Activity slows through summer and mostly stops by fall as the new generation settles in for winter inside the wood. The eaves and fascia are the only place we're really looking for this one; it's a very specific, exterior-wood problem.
• WHAT THE PROS KNOW
The male carpenter bee hovering at your face cannot sting. The female is in the wood, and the woodpecker that comes for her larvae does more damage than she does.
• WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY
The technicians are the reason people stay.
We have been very pleased with Clae Pest Control. Robby is particularly great to work with. Not only is Robby personable and friendly, he is very knowledgeable and has many tricks up his sleeve. He also has followed up to make sure that his services are working appropriately which has been such a relief. Communication is also fantastic, and they can text to confirm/change appointment times. 100% would recommended.
Great experience so far. Called due to hearing some sounds in the wall of our old OP house. Fast and responsive, did a thorough inspection, no high pressure sales. They didn't find definite evidence of mice, and even though I offered to just pay for service they insisted on putting out baits for free to see if I actually needed anything. The baits have caught a mouse so will be having them come back for full service.
Clae Pest Control is exceptional! They responded quickly, their team was knowledgeable and friendly, and their eco-friendly treatment effectively resolved my pest issue. Their transparent pricing and helpful prevention tips made the entire experience hassle-free. I highly recommend Clae Pest Control for top-notch service!
I am extremely happy with the service I received from Clae Pest Control. Robby is very professional, thorough, and friendly. I also received a detailed account of the services provided, and he arrived on time. The product really works, I no longer have problems with ants and spiders, all for a very reasonable price. I highly recommend them.