Q: I had carpenter bees boring in my deck last year and now they are back again. Is there any way to keep them away?

A: The best you can do is to reduce the local population each year. Although carpenter bees are active pollinators, the damage they do to siding, decks and garages sometimes outweighs their usefulness. The ones you see hovering around the wood are males, guarding the egg laying tunnels made by female bees. Squirt a bit of insecticide into each hole you can locate and seal it with caulk. This will do more to reduce next year’s family than swatting the males when they buzz you.

Carpenter Bees

N. C. State – Carpenter Bees

Clemson Entomology – Carpenter Bee