Carpenter Bee Drilling a hole in a piece of wood

The tropical carpenter bee (Xylocopa latipes) is a species of carpenter bee widely dispersed throughout Southeast Asia. It is a very large, robust, solitary bee. It is shiny, fully black in colour with fuscous metallic blue-green or purple wings in the sunlight. The tropical carpenter bee is probably the largest Xylocopa known and among the largest bees in the world. As its name suggests, this bee inhabits forests in warm tropical climates and constructs nests by burrowing into wood. It often makes long deep tunnels in wooden rafters, fallen trees, telephone poles, and the like, but is not found in living trees. It has a loud and distinctive, low-pitched buzzing that can be heard as it flies between flowers or perches. It is relatively unaggressive and rarely stings. In Urban areas, these bees can become attached to certain perches, returning to them day after day, even after several generations. An injured tropical carpenter bee sits on the road at Tehatta, West Bengal, India on september 05, 2023. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Residents of the Garden State are dealing with a springtime nuisance as a carpenter bee infestation wreaks havoc on our homes. I have been noticing sizable holes in the wood on my deck. I have also been observing "biggy-sized" bees hovering over the deck. The light bulb went off when I was reading posts from community members seeking advice on Facebook regarding carpenter bees. I assumed that all bees are bees and are pretty similar. I learned that is not always the case especially when it comes to carpenter bees.

Identifying Carpenter Bee Infestations

Carpenter bees are similar to bumblebees. According to Prevention, they usually have a furry abdomen, as Emory Matts, M.S., a board-certified entomologist and technical services manager for Western Exterminator Company, explains. Yet, unlike their counterparts, carpenter bees typically sport a black abdomen and no yellow markings. Carpenter bees can grow up to an inch long. That is why I thought these carpenter bees were 'biggy sized.'

Unlike honey or bumble bees, carpenter bees nest in wood rather than in the ground. They leave behind round, drill-like holes, which is what I noticed on my deck. These bees don't consume wood but instead, "they evacuate the wood to create chambers for where they can rear their offspring" according to Emory Matts.

Although carpenter bees do not harm humans they can wreak havoc on wood structures and trees surrounding homes, presenting a nuisance that can be costly. Basically, anywhere there is wood such as siding soffits, decks, posts, and the painted or bare wood of barns and sheds, they will drill holes.

To identify a carpenter bee infestation, inspect wood decks and railings for small openings in the wood, sawdust near drilled holes, and a mixture of pollen and bee feces near the entrance holes. An abundance of buzzing bees, particularly protective males, could signify an infestation.

Effective Strategies for Managing Carpenter Bee Problems

Various at-home solutions exist for taking care of these carpenter bee issues, but their effectiveness varies. These strategies include removing weathered or decaying wood, plugging existing holes with a cut dowel coated in wood glue, painting exposed wood, using insecticides labeled for carpenter bees, using carpenter bee traps, or attempting to vacuum them up with a shop vac. If the infestation persists or appears severe, it's advisable to seek professional pest control services.

10 Best Places To Buy A Home In New Jersey In 2022

Figuring out where you want to live can be a challenge. Now that you've decided New Jersey is where you want to plant your roots, you now have to pick exactly where you'd like to live. The Garden State is a unique place and has a vast majority of different types of neighborhoods for you to choose from. You have cities, suburbs, rural, and shore towns right at your fingertips.

According to The Spruce, location is the most important part of the home-buying process. The site also suggests other important factors to consider when buying a home: "So when you go house hunting, consider proximity to your work, how the home is situated on the lot, ease of access, noise from neighbors, and traffic. Also think about access to parks, shopping, schools, and public transportation."

Niche put together a list of 10 unique New Jersey neighborhoods to buy a home based on their public school system, if the neighborhood is good for families, crime and safety rate, nightlife, diversity, and of course housing.

Take a look at the top 10 places in New Jersey to buy a home in 2022 according to Niche below:

10. Ho-Ho-Kus

Ho-Ho-Kus has a population of 4,096 and is a borough located in Bergen County."Living in Ho-Ho-Kus offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. Many retirees live in Ho-Ho-Kus and residents tend to lean toward conservative," Niche states. According to realtor.com, the average home in Ho-Ho-Kus is listed for $999K. Take a look at the scorecard below:

Public Schools : A+
Housing: A-
Good For Families: A+
Crime & Safety: A-
Nightlife: B+
Diversity: C+

9. Greentree

Greentree is located in Cherry Hill township within Camden County. The population of Greentree is 10,597. "Living in Greentree offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many young professionals live in Greentree and residents tend to have moderate political views. " Niche states. According to realtor.com, the average home in Greentree is listed for $427K.

Take a look at their scorecard below:

Public Schools : A+
Housing: A-
Good For Families: A+
Crime & Safety: N/A
Nightlife: B+
Diversity: A-

8. Glen Rock

Glen Rock has a population of 11,747 and is located in Bergen County. "Living in Glen Rock offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Glen Rock there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families live in Glen Rock and residents tend to lean conservative," per Niche. According to realtor.com, the average home in Glen Rock is listed for $805K. Take a look at the scorecard below:

Public Schools: A+
Housing: A-
Good For Families: A+
Crime & Safety: A-
Nightlife: A-
Diversity: B

7. Glen Ridge

Glen Ridge has a population of 7,583 and is located in Essex County. "Living in Glen Ridge offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Glen Ridge there are a lot of parks. Many families live in Glen Ridge and residents tend to be liberal," Niche states. According to relator.com, the average home for Glen Ridge is listed for $854K. Take a look at the scorecard below:

Public Schools : A+
Housing: A-
Good For Families: A+
Crime & Safety: B
Nightlife: B-
Diversity: B-

6. Springdale

Springdale has a population of 14,111 and is located in Camden County. "Living in Springdale offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many retirees live in Springdale and residents tend to have moderate political views," Niche states. According to relator.com, the average home in Springdale is listed for $479.9K.