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What is the best way to get rid of these things? I hate to kill them because we are short on polonators, but they are a damn nuisance. For me they really don't bother me but the wife freaks out every time ( traumatic bee encounter from years ago), so I need to do something. I just tried pouring vinegar over the railings and spindles and they took off fast. maybe this will do it maybe it won't. I am open to ideas. They are boring in to pressure treated 2x4's......

I really don't know but if it were me I'd try and locate each and every hole the damn things bored into your deck, soffit, or whatever they're boring holes into. Look for the saw dust they make then go up.

Once you got the holes all marked spray them with that wasp and hornet killer. It shoots a long way.
Next:
The insulation called great stuff has a bug proof version. I think it's got a green label. I forget but that's what we use on honeybee removals to plug up where they go in and out. Use the stuff and put some in every hole the bees made.

Here. It's called "pest block".
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dow-GREAT-STUF ... oCXpHw_wcB

The final step is to stop them from coming back. They're sort of like geese and go back to the same hole they were born in to lay their eggs.

I fought them when living in the country here, and didn't find anything to put on the wood that kept them out for long once they got started. Most satisfying thing was a tennis racket.

But folks now use carpenter bee traps that seem to work well.

They show up at my buddy's delta camp, and we pull out badminton rackets and have a contest. When my boys were younger, we always had at least one bb gun onboard, and shooting them out of the air as they stop middair and stare at you is a hoot too. Although, I must admit, also the blame for several bb holes in the screen porch As Rick mentions, there are Carpenter Bee traps that you can buy, that have a mason jar screwed into the bottom for collection of the bees. Also, it seems like they prefer unpainted surfaces, so that may be an option as well...........hate those boring bastages!

Yea its pretty wild to see what they can bore into with ease. They wreck shop on camps around here in SE La along the waterways particularly. Have seen some of the traps catch a few, but nothing beats a tennis racket or the 'ol net and stomp method

If only there were a way that involved shooting, fire, and massive explosions.
Tannerite missiles.

Even if you burn the camp down every end-of-season you'll still have them coming around. They smell that wood and get little bee boners. Was a framer for over 20 years. Have shot a carpenter bee or two with the paslode gun.
Here all you gotta do is get the lumberyard to drop the floor system supplies and bam...you got bees.
That good southern yellow pine attracts them I think.

Deltaman wrote:Also, it seems like they prefer unpainted surfaces, so that may be an option as well.....

While it does seem they prefer unpainted surfaces, they had tried a so-said bug repellent paint on the camp porch they're currently eating.

These bastages are turning my dog kennel into Swiss cheese. Wood dust everywhere.

Just for the hell of it I started dowsing the railings, which are painted, with vinegar the other night. To my utter surprise they hated it and took off. They hung around for a while trying to get into the holes already bored but would not go in to them. The next day they were gone and I haven't seen them around for the last 2 days. Don't know if it's the "solution" but for now they are gone.....

Perhaps that's the trick... Even if temporary, it has to be cheaper and cleaner than some of what I tried.

don novicki wrote:Just for the hell of it I started dowsing the railings, which are painted, with vinegar the other night. To my utter surprise they hated it and took off. They hung around for a while trying to get into the holes already bored but would not go in to them. The next day they were gone and I haven't seen them around for the last 2 days. Don't know if it's the "solution" but for now they are gone.....

Damn good info for the future, Thanks!!!!!