Do Carpenter Bees Sting People?

What carpenter bees look like in Vermont - Vermont Pest Control

Bee stings can feel anywhere from annoying to extremely painful, depending on the species of bee. Regardless of what kind of them are around, no one wants to be on the receiving end of a bee sting.

Some bees are more on the timid side, however, and will only sting if they sense serious cause for concern. So, if you are worried that you have a carpenter bee problem at your house, should you be concerned about being stung?

Carpenter Bee Stings

First, make sure that what you are dealing with is a carpenter bee issue. Here are a few factors that will help you tell them apart from other bees:

  • They have shiny, black-colored abdomen
  • Their wings are longer and darker than a bumblebee’s
  • You’ll find groups of small holes in the wood in your house that look like they’ve been drilled
  • You will see them up around your roof or window sills, not in flower beds like most bees

If you determine that you have carpenter bees, don’t worry too much about them stinging you. Male carpenter bees don’t have a stinger at all, and females will only sting when they’re swatted at, stepped on, or when their home is endangered. They have to feel seriously threatened, so if you leave them alone, you should be just fine.

Are Carpenter Bees Good?

When people realize that they have a carpenter bee population growing around their home, they might fear that there could be serious damage being done to their house. In reality, any damage carpenter bees will do is largely superficial, and won’t compromise your house’s structure.

Additionally, carpenter bees play a part in pollinating plants on your property. They don’t actually eat the wood that they chew through, instead, they feed on nectar from plants, helping many beautiful flowers and other flora grow stronger and healthier.

Although they are a critical contributor to their ecosystems, they might not be ideal to keep around. Hosting too many carpenter bees could make for porches, railings, window sills, and roofs that look less than perfect.

Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

If you’re ready to get rid of the carpenter bees in your house, contact your local extermination experts. Our technicians at Vermont Pest Control are trained to remove bees, hornets, and wasps using the most efficient methods and adhering to EPA regulations. We re-license our employees annually through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture to ensure that we are up to date with all of the latest and safest techniques. Reach out today for a free quote!