Key takeaways
- Carpenter bees prefer bare, weathered softwood, and Texas A&M says paint works better than stain.
- Check eaves, porch ceilings, sheds and mailboxes in spring, when wasp nests are small.
- Male carpenter bees cannot sting, and only female wasps and bees can.
- Leave established yellowjacket and hornet nests to professionals, and get medical help right away for signs of a severe allergic reaction.
Two pests, two different nests
Paper wasps build open-faced, papery nests that hang from a single stalk, usually under eaves, porch ceilings and other sheltered spots. Carpenter bees are large, shiny black bees, similar to bumble bees but with a hairless abdomen, that drill perfectly round holes about half an inch wide into wood. Mud daubers, which build nests of mud, are docile and typically sting only when handled roughly.
Texas A&M says paper wasps are probably the most common wasps people meet across Texas, and that carpenter bees are common throughout the state. Carpenter bees do not eat wood. They use it only to build nests, and they also pollinate flowers, so the goal is keeping them out of your wood, not out of your yard.
When they show up in the Panhandle
Both begin in spring. Paper wasp queens that overwintered in cracks and crevices start a small nest, and a mature colony usually holds only 20 to 30 wasps. Adult carpenter bees spend the winter in old nest tunnels and usually emerge in April and May, according to Texas A&M. Amarillo's average last freeze falls around April 18, so late April and May is the time to start looking.
Yellowjackets, which often nest underground or inside walls, can be aggressive when foraging, especially in fall.
How stings happen
Only female wasps and bees sting, and wasps can sting repeatedly. Wasps are usually calm away from the nest but defend it hard, and yellowjackets can react to vibrations such as mowing. A nest beside a front door, a play set or a mailbox is the one to act on. Male carpenter bees hover and dart at people but cannot sting, and females sting only if handled or provoked.
Wash a sting site with soap and water. Texas A&M lists difficulty breathing or swallowing, dizziness, weakness, vomiting, rashes or unconsciousness as signs of a serious allergic reaction. Get medical help right away if any appear, and call 911 if breathing is affected.
Prevention you can start today
A few habits make a home less inviting to both pests.
- Paint exposed wood. Texas A&M says oil-based or polyurethane paint, or pressure-treated wood, is most effective against carpenter bees, while stain gives inadequate protection.
- Focus on eaves, railings, doors, window sills, fences, siding and outdoor furniture, and re-coat weathered finishes, since bare softwood is what carpenter bees prefer.
- Where carpenter bee activity keeps returning, metal flashing or wire screen over the wood is a last-resort barrier.
- Check likely nest spots every week or two in spring, including eaves, porch ceilings, sheds, mailboxes and play sets, so you find nests while they are small. Wasps flying to the same spot again and again can mean a nest is there or being built.
- Seal cracks and gaps in siding, soffits and trim, which removes some of the cracks where queens overwinter.
- Cover trash cans and pick up fallen fruit. Yellowjackets feed on nectar, rotting fruit and carrion, so this gives them less to forage for.
Spotting carpenter bee damage
Look for round holes about half an inch across, often with a pile of sawdust on the ground below them. Texas A&M says no other insect makes an opening that large and that perfectly round. Females are often seen hovering below a nest entrance, and galleries average 4 to 6 inches long and can reach 12.
Females reuse and extend old tunnels, so damage accumulates over the years and can eventually weaken the lumber. That is why fresh holes are worth attention even when the cosmetic damage looks minor.
When to call a professional
Leave established yellowjacket and hornet colonies to professionals. Texas A&M notes they defend their nests aggressively, can sting many times and can be dangerous to remove without protective clothing and specialized equipment. Call as well if a nest is out of reach, inside a wall or beside an entry, or if anyone in the household is allergic to stings.
A nest in a spot nobody uses can often be left alone, since wasps also feed on caterpillars and other garden pests. If a nest is removed, AgriLife advises cleaning the spot thoroughly, because leftover pheromones can attract other wasps to the same place.
How the Home Protection Plan fits
Wasps and carpenter bees are among the pests our Home Protection Plan covers, with year-round visits about every two months. Painting, repairing and replacing damaged wood are home maintenance jobs, so the habits above are still worthwhile alongside the plan.
Sources
This guide is general information for homeowners in the Texas Panhandle, drawn from the sources listed with each guide. It is not medical advice and does not replace product labels, your doctor, the Texas Department of State Health Services or Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. If you think you have been bitten, stung or exposed to a pesticide, call your doctor or the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222. Pest activity varies by property and season.
