- 1). Inject desiccant dusts (a combination of boric acid and diatomaceous earth) into the hole with an insecticide puffer applicator. Insert the tip into the hole and puff the powder in. Diatomaceous earth cuts through the carpenter bee's outer body. The substance is composed of seashells and sea life that has been ground up over time to a fine powder. It is small and quite sharp for insects but does not damage humans. Boric acid is a natural mineral salt referred to as borate. The insects inadvertently ingest the toxic mineral while grooming themselves.
- 2). Caulk all external cracks and crevices around the house using external caulking. Carpenter bees often utilize cracks and crevices into unpainted wood to begin making their nest.
- 3). Paint all exposed wood before carpenter ants begin to nest in the area. Carpenter ants rarely tunnel into painted wood. The wood can also be stained but is less effective at deterring the bees than painted wood.
- 4). Fill existing holes with steel wool and then caulk over the steel wool with exterior caulk. You can also use a lightweight exterior epoxy to fill the holes after applying steel wool. Once the epoxy has dried, sand the area using a light grain piece of sandpaper so it is flush with the wood.
- 5). Paint or stain the areas of damage once the holes have been repaired. You can also apply stains on the wood, but carpenter bees often continue chewing through stained wood to reach the old nest, although they avoid painted wood.
- 6). Place metal flashing on the ends of any exposed boards so the carpenter bees do not begin to bore into the unpainted wood surface. Wrap window screen over all areas of exposed wood and hold it in place with nails. The bees will avoid the areas of metal.
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