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Message |
    
taam
Citizen
Username: Taam
Post Number: 130
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 11:39 am: | 
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is there really a way to get rid of them & have them not come back year after year? i hate the idea of the sprays that exterminators use, but i'd love to hear any/all suggestions. thanks! |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 858
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 1:02 pm: |
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They come back to where they were born/hatched. We've always had them, but nip it in the bud and fewer and fewer come back each year. We've paid an exterminator, but found more effective and much cheaper treatments by using the advice and products on www.bugspray.com.
Basically, you have to puff some dry powdery stuff called, I think, Drione into the holes they make in the wood. This will kill the baby bees.
Then, you can buy tiny corks (found ours on bugspray dot com) and hammer them into the holes so the momma can't get in there. Then you can do a number of things to prevent new holes from being bored. You could try repainting, although bees decided to drill in our brand new, freshly painted shutters last year! You could cover with a metal flashing or screening that they can't get through. You could spray the surfaces they seem to enjoy with a pymethrione (sp?) spray (also found on bugspray.com), but you have to reapply every 3 months or so.
Good luck! |
dano
Citizen
Username: Dano
Post Number: 192
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 1:36 pm: |
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I find using a wiffle ball bat works quite well, as they are slow and stupid.. plus they don't have stingers so that helps if I miss occasionally. |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 488
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 2:26 pm: |
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taam, our original deck was riddled with them. Big holes burrowed into every area of the wood -- it was crazy! They are quite chubby and slow, and from my estimation, non-threatening. We eventually tore down the old deck and they have not come back since. I think it's certain woods they enjoy better? |
Shannon OReilly
Citizen
Username: Soreilly
Post Number: 6
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 3:52 pm: |
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Dano- I was just outside with my broom.....my 2 year old was hiding behind me screaming..BEEES...I am sure the neighbors were enjoying the show! Anyway, we too seem to have a problem with these guys. I HATE the fact that they are eating up our deck. I just called someone to come out...I can't stand it any longer! I tried spraying yesterday, but looks like I missed a few holes, and I am sure that there are many more around the area. I wouldn't mind so much, except for the fact that my lil guy was stung by a wasp about 2 weeks ago and is now petrified of all flying insects...and the bees seem to be right near his sandbox......so, they must go! |
george H
Citizen
Username: Georgieboy
Post Number: 161
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 4:01 pm: |
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I think that soft woods [cedar,pine,redwood]are favored and while painting/staining seems to discourage them,its only temporarily.I use a cut off coat hanger to dismember them when I see them drilling and then Minwax epoxy putty to seal the hole.No matter how many I dispose of theres always another to take its place. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2791
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 4:42 pm: |
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Leave them alone. They won't do any real harm. Folks want to kill everything. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1501
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 4:50 pm: |
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The problem is, even if you take care of your area (by whatever method you choose), your neighbors can still attract them, and a lot of our houses are very close together.... |
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