Carp Bees question

[Flash]

Short of painting, what can you apply to wood, that will be easy to apply, not cost a lot and last that would discourage carpenter bees from drilling holes??

 

[NCHillbilly]

Short of painting, what can you apply to wood, that will be easy to apply, not cost a lot and last that would discourage carpenter bees from drilling holes??

They make a borax solution to spray on it. When I built my porch, I used pressure-treated lumber from the foundation to the rafters. That works.

 

[Flash]

They make a borax solution to spray on it. When I built my porch, I used pressure-treated lumber from the foundation to the rafters. That works.

My barn doesn't have PT except where ground contact. How long would the borax last you reckon??

 

[NCHillbilly]

My barn doesn't have PT except where ground contact. How long would the borax last you reckon??

I don't know. I would guess a year or two.

 

[Stang]

The carpenter bees in my area tend to like pressure treated wood best

 

[Jester896]

that seems the case here too

 

[livinoutdoors]

50/50 diesel motor oil mix stain. I have pressure treated that they drill into. They dont touch the stuff i stained with the diesel oil mix.

 

[tree cutter 08]

Bora care which is basically borax claims to last a lifetime of the wood if sprayed before a stain or sealer is applied. With that said I don't rember if it has to be locked in with a stain or sealer or can be left untreated. I've seen some holes in pt wood but not many at all. They definitely like the white pine post and beams on my house. I've got a dozen of those bee traps built and only caught a few this year.

 

[gobbleinwoods]

They make a borax solution to spray on it. When I built my porch, I used pressure-treated lumber from the foundation to the rafters. That works.

I put a new ramp on the house a month ago built with pressure-treated lumber and already have one carpenter bee hole in it. What ever they are using to treat lumber now doesn't seem to be discouraging insects.

 

[NCHillbilly]

I put a new ramp on the house a month ago built with pressure-treated lumber and already have one carpenter bee hole in it. What ever they are using to treat lumber now doesn't seem to be discouraging insects.

The newer stuff isn't as resistant as the old stuff, for sure. I think they outlawed the chromated copper arsenate they used to use.

 

[Jim Baker]

The newer stuff isn't as resistant as the old stuff, for sure. I think they outlawed the chromated copper arsenate they used to use.

Most of what you find in the big box stores is not ground contact rated.

 

[jaydawg]

I use peppermint oil to stop the wasps from making nests and citrus oil to stop the carpenter bees…apply with pump sprayer

 

[Flash]

I use peppermint oil to stop the wasps from making nests and citrus oil to stop the carpenter bees…apply with pump sprayer

Where do you buy?

 

[Flash]

50/50 diesel motor oil mix stain. I have pressure treated that they drill into. They dont touch the stuff i stained with the diesel oil mix.

Too close to my well

 

[livinoutdoors]

Too close to my well

It dont come outta the wood but i can see your point. Im interested in that fellers idea of the citrus oil. Sounds like something to try.

 

[jaydawg]

Where do you buy?

Just ordered from Amazon…the citrus and peppermint oils aren’t harmful to anything and if you mix it a little strong, oh well…I don’t mind the smell but the bees do

 

[Killdee]

Bora care which is basically borax claims to last a lifetime of the wood if sprayed before a stain or sealer is applied. With that said I don't rember if it has to be locked in with a stain or sealer or can be left untreated. I've seen some holes in pt wood but not many at all. They definitely like the white pine post and beams on my house. I've got a dozen of those bee traps built and only caught a few this year.

They work best with certain placement move your traps around. I believe they work best under a cover like a soffit or under the deck.

 

[tree cutter 08]

They work best with certain placement move your traps around. I believe they work best under a cover like a soffit or under the deck.

Well that's what I thought, they are mounted to beams and overhangs up high in the typical places bees like to bore. House was built last year so maybe they just haven't found it good yet. I've found about 6 holes from last year and only seen a handful buzzing so far this year.

 

[gobbleinwoods]

Just ordered from Amazon…the citrus and peppermint oils aren’t harmful to anything and if you mix it a little strong, oh well…I don’t mind the smell but the bees do

Do you buy the citrus oil made from orange peels?

 

[jaydawg]

^yes it’s orange oil concentrate