lack of bees - Page 2

PureHarvest · June 22, 2019

But all the people in charge say that the chemicals are safe if applied according to the label.
Apparently the bees don’t read the labels. Law breakers.

SueCT · June 22, 2019

Unfortunately, sometimes you have to spray. I wish I had another way, but I am getting the point where I will have to spray the bees directly. The only bees I have in my yard are the wood bees. They are drilling into my house, in the wood that frames my basement windows and up into the side of the house. I sprayed those holes a couple of years ago and all my bees disappeared. I was so upset. But for two years now they are at it again, and I can't let them destroy my house. I am torn, but it is starting to scare me how much damage they could be doing.

slugworth · June 22, 2019

They live in the ground,so carpenter bees are effected by the flooding.
Sometimes that is the only bee type I have in the yard.
You put grease on the holes,they hate to get greasy hairs.
They drill perfect holes,I used to use old axel grease.

PaulF · June 22, 2019

Bumblebees also nest in the ground. After two years without bumblers finally a couple of species are back, the Pennsylvania and the Morrison. Being really squirrelly around stinging insects, I have learned not to fear the bumbles or the honeybees...yellowjackets still make me crazy.

SueCT · June 22, 2019

Thanks, Slugworth, I will try that. I was just replanting my herb garden which is in front of a basement window and there was a whole pile of sawdust on the window ledge and one bee hanging around watching what I was doing.

brownrexx · June 22, 2019

Sue, you can fill the holes with steel wool or caulk. They can not chew through either one and it's a lot cleaner than grease.

arnorrian · June 22, 2019

The easy way to help the bees is to plant the milkweed (Asclepias). Bees are crazy for it. I once saw six species of bees on a single flowering common milkweed plant. There is multiple species of milkweed with different colored flowers and height.

SueCT · June 22, 2019

The problem with filling the holes with anything is that they will just drill new holes. I guess the same thing could happen with the grease. I was going to see if Home Depot had some type of metal flashing I could nail over the wood so they couldn't bore into it any more, but I do have to get rid of them before I do that. Not even sure there is anything like that.

greenthumbomaha · June 22, 2019

They were here and gone too. There weren't many things in bloom when they visited earlier in the spring due to the extended cold weather. I've since bought a few plants and the natives are flowering but no bees to enjoy the offerings. What is the future of the bee population? Very sad and concerning.

- Lisa

brownrexx · June 23, 2019

Many types of bees LOVE any flowering herbs. I have oregano that is absolutely covered with bees but they seem to come to all of my herbs as they begin flowering.

Sue, covering the wood is the best solution. I have also read that they don't like painted surfaces but I don't know if that's true or not. Our house is all plastic siding, aluminum soffit and stucco so no Carpenter Bee problem but I have a post and rail fence near the garden that is full of their holes and I am OK with that. As long as you have wood - they will come.

throwaway · June 23, 2019

My biggest issue with carpenter bees are the drones that dive bomb your head for being in any proximity. No sting but I find it rather unnerving when these hummingbird sized things swoop close or bang straight into you.

Worth1 · June 23, 2019

I can honesty say the carpenter bees in my area prefer 1/4 to 5/16 inch holes.

bower · June 23, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I can honesty say the carpenter bees in my area prefer 1/4 to 5/16 inch holes.

Well that is an interesting idea... what about using some precision drill bits to make them a nest site - away from the house!

slugworth · June 23, 2019

they are do it yourselfers

bower · June 23, 2019

Wow this is cool, carpenter bees don't like noisy neighbours, so you can drive them away with a couple of days of your favorite thrash metal at high volume

https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Carpenter-Bees

A couple of sites recommended almond oil and citrus oil as repellents, which could encourage them to leave but probably not lasting long enough to keep them away permanently.

This site has some advice about a decoy piece of wood for them to nest in:
https://fightbugs.com/remove-carpent...-killing-them/

And the gamut of techniques as well as much carpenter bee life cycle info here:
https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/dis...arpenter-bees/

June 22, 2019	#19
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,284	Bumblebees also nest in the ground. After two years without bumblers finally a couple of species are back, the Pennsylvania and the Morrison. Being really squirrelly around stinging insects, I have learned not to fear the bumbles or the honeybees...yellowjackets still make me crazy. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

June 22, 2019	#16
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	But all the people in charge say that the chemicals are safe if applied according to the label. Apparently the bees don’t read the labels. Law breakers.

June 22, 2019	#17
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	Unfortunately, sometimes you have to spray. I wish I had another way, but I am getting the point where I will have to spray the bees directly. The only bees I have in my yard are the wood bees. They are drilling into my house, in the wood that frames my basement windows and up into the side of the house. I sprayed those holes a couple of years ago and all my bees disappeared. I was so upset. But for two years now they are at it again, and I can't let them destroy my house. I am torn, but it is starting to scare me how much damage they could be doing.

June 22, 2019	#18
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,150	They live in the ground,so carpenter bees are effected by the flooding. Sometimes that is the only bee type I have in the yard. You put grease on the holes,they hate to get greasy hairs. They drill perfect holes,I used to use old axel grease.

June 22, 2019	#21
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Sue, you can fill the holes with steel wool or caulk. They can not chew through either one and it's a lot cleaner than grease.

June 22, 2019	#22
arnorrian Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2019 Location: Serbia Posts: 199	The easy way to help the bees is to plant the milkweed (Asclepias). Bees are crazy for it. I once saw six species of bees on a single flowering common milkweed plant. There is multiple species of milkweed with different colored flowers and height.

June 22, 2019	#24
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	They were here and gone too. There weren't many things in bloom when they visited earlier in the spring due to the extended cold weather. I've since bought a few plants and the natives are flowering but no bees to enjoy the offerings. What is the future of the bee population? Very sad and concerning. - Lisa

June 23, 2019	#25
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Many types of bees LOVE any flowering herbs. I have oregano that is absolutely covered with bees but they seem to come to all of my herbs as they begin flowering. Sue, covering the wood is the best solution. I have also read that they don't like painted surfaces but I don't know if that's true or not. Our house is all plastic siding, aluminum soffit and stucco so no Carpenter Bee problem but I have a post and rail fence near the garden that is full of their holes and I am OK with that. As long as you have wood - they will come.

June 23, 2019	#26
throwaway Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Zone 6 Posts: 92	My biggest issue with carpenter bees are the drones that dive bomb your head for being in any proximity. No sting but I find it rather unnerving when these hummingbird sized things swoop close or bang straight into you.

June 23, 2019	#27
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I can honesty say the carpenter bees in my area prefer 1/4 to 5/16 inch holes.

June 23, 2019	#30
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,793	Wow this is cool, carpenter bees don't like noisy neighbours, so you can drive them away with a couple of days of your favorite thrash metal at high volume https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Carpenter-Bees A couple of sites recommended almond oil and citrus oil as repellents, which could encourage them to leave but probably not lasting long enough to keep them away permanently. This site has some advice about a decoy piece of wood for them to nest in: https://fightbugs.com/remove-carpent...-killing-them/ And the gamut of techniques as well as much carpenter bee life cycle info here: https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/dis...arpenter-bees/