When Do Carpenter Bees Become Active?

Carpenter bee activity in Knoxville TN - Russell's Pest Control

Just like other species of insects and animals, carpenter bees become active again once the majority of the winter season is over, the weather begins to warm slightly, and the spring season is just around the corner. In Knoxville TN, this is usually anywhere between mid-February and April. Carpenter bees aren’t just a nuisance, as they can cause a lot of problems with their wood-boring habits. The team at Russell’s Pest Control is committed to keeping you safe from the dangers of pests year-round, carpenter bees included. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about carpenter bees near your Tennessee property.

Dangers of Carpenter Bees in Knoxville TN

When it comes to carpenter bees, they tend to be more damaging to property than they are a danger to people. Here’s what to know:

  1. Only the female has the ability to sting, but the females are typically pretty docile and they rarely sting on purpose. It is still important to remember that if you are ever stung by a carpenter bee, you should take the same precautions as you would with any other bee sting, especially if you are allergic to their venom.
  2. Even though these stinging insects are not particularly dangerous, they are very damaging. In fact, the damages that carpenter bees can cause can become quite extensive and expensive to repair if they are allowed to continue nesting on your property.
  3. Carpenter bees create perfectly round holes that are about ¼ of an inch in diameter; once inside the wood they make a turn a create tunnels along the grain of the wood to lay their eggs in. Carpenter bees are solitary, but it is very typical for several females to choose the same area or even the same piece of wood to nest inside of. Over time, this damage can worsen.

Signs of Carpenter Bee Activity

If carpenter bees have decided to take up residence on your property, you will notice large bumblebee-like insects that are black in color flying around your property under or around wooden structures. If carpenter bees are nesting on your property you will probably also begin to notice dime-sized holes in wooden outdoor furniture, eaves, wooden trim, wood shingles, and wooden play structures. Another seemingly strange sign of a carpenter bee infestation on your Knoxville property is noticing an increase of woodpeckers. Woodpeckers love to dine on the larvae and eggs of carpenter bees, they are attracted to the nest from the sounds that the larvae make and will peck at the nest entrance hole in order to enlarge it and gain access to bees inside. Needless to say, this causes even more damages to the structure that is housing the carpenter bee nest.

How to Prevent Carpenter Bee Problems

Preventing carpenter bees from choosing your property to invade can be a difficult task, but there are a couple of easy ways that you can deter them from choosing your Knoxville home or property to nest on.

  1. First, inspect the exterior of your home and any wood wooden structures located on your property. Any holes found should be filled in with a quality wood filler. Holes found in wooden structures have the potential to attract adult carpenter bees that are looking for a place to nest.
  2. Varnish, stain or paint any wooden structures on your property to help prevent them from becoming water damaged. Carpenter bees are highly attracted to water-damaged wood.

Need Help With Carpenter Bees?

Since it is almost that time of year again when carpenter bees are going to once again become active, now is the time to safeguard your property. When you work with Russell’s, our bee control experts will come to your property, identify any problem areas, and put into place a plan of action to protect your home and property from being further damaged by these rogue carpenters. Contact us today to learn more!

Signs of Termites in Your Knoxville Home

Termite frass is a common sign of termites in Knoxville TN - Russell's Pest Control

Here in Knoxville, termites are a year-round pest problem. However, the spring and summer months bring about an abundance of new termite infestations. In order to better prepare yourself for the upcoming termite season, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the most common signs of termites. Unlike other pests and insects that you may have dealt with before, termites are rarely actually seen. Instead, they will leave behind evidence of their presence. Knowing these signs of termites can help stop an infestation before it starts. The experts at Russell’s Pest Control are here to help with their expert knowledge on signs of termites–read on to learn more!

5 Signs of Termites

1. Drywood Termite Droppings

Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites nest within wood. As they tunnel through dry wood as well as when they swarm, drywood termites create kick-out holes in the wood. This is when their droppings, also known as frass, can be found. Termite frass most closely resembles sawdust or coffee grounds, and can appear in piles. Seeing this sign of termites makes it important to call a professional for closer inspection.

2. Swarming termites

In the springtime, reproductive termites will leave their colony to mate and form new ones. Swarming happens when a mature termite colony releases a number of swarmers from their existing nest. Reproductive termites, also known as alates or swarmers, can often be mistaken for other flying insects, especially carpenter ants. Seeing winged termites in the spring months is a sign of termites spreading.

3. Termite wings

After alates swarm and land in their new location, they will literally twist their wings off to discard them. This is because after flight, they will no longer need to fly. Termite wings are all the same size and translucent in color. These wings can often be seen in piles, which is indicative of termites forming their new colony nearby.

4. Mud tubes

Made from and used by subterranean termites, mud tubes are pencil-sized tunnels through which termites travel. True to their name, subterranean termites nest underground. In order to leave the nest and forage for food, they will build mud tubes out of their feces. This protects the termites from outdoor elements as it blocks out cool, dry air. Seeing mud tubes along the outside of your property is likely the number one sign of termites.

5. Damaged wood

Termites are infamous for damaging wood. This can appear in several ways. Typically, termite damage can cause unexplained cracks on walls, beams, and rafters. It can cause sagging wood in your floors, as well as hollow-sounding wood. Sometimes wood damage can lead to weakened baseboards and floorboards. In general, wood damage of any kind can be a major sign of a termite problem.

How to Inspect for Signs of Termite Problems

Seeing any of the above signs of termites means it’s time to call in a professional. A trained technician knows exactly what to look for when it comes to termites. Here in Knoxville, you can trust the experienced termite exterminators at Russell’s. Contact us today to learn more about finding signs of termites in or near your home.