Do Bumble Bees Chew Wood

While the pests do not eat wood, they excavate tunnels to use as nests. These are usually in the eaves of homes, as well as in decks, siding, fascia boards or porches.

Why you shouldn't kill carpenter bees?

It’s also possible that enough burrowing over the years could cause structural damage that might weaken a porch roof. But since carpenter bees tend to make it simple on themselves by using holes that have already been constructed instead of making new ones, demolishing an entire structure would take a lot of burrowing.

Are bumble bees bigger than carpenter bees?

Both bees are about the same size (almost 1 inch) and both are black and yellow. The easiest way to tell the difference is that the top of our eastern carpenter bee’s abdomen is black, shiny, and hairless, while the bumble bee’s abdomen is fuzzy black, often with a yellow band.