Wood surfaces are an excellent choice for nest sites for wood bees. Wood surfaces with cracks, splinters, and nail holes make excellent nest sites. Wood surfaces are also attractive nest sites for bees in flowerbeds and gardens. The female bees will chew on wood and excrete sticky yellow waste. The waste accumulates in a fan-shaped pattern that may stain surfaces.
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Nectar
The female of the ECB excavates a half-inch-wide hole in wood. Since her nest is typically made of wood, she prefers to use the same nest she hatched out of. Females may leave honey-combed wood for several generations. In addition, they will eat the pollen and nectar from the flowers, so the wood will become coated with honey and beeswax.
Some researchers have speculated that wood bees eat the nectar from flowers to feed their young. However, some evidence suggests that this pollination process may not be completely beneficial for plants. Pollinators that rob nectar often have a neutral or positive effect on the plants. In addition, it may even indirectly improve the fitness of the plants. This is a controversial topic, but it is important to keep in mind the needs of the plants when deciding where to plant pollination is needed.
Pollen
Female wood bees build a complex system of brood cells in wood. They excavate a hollow, round tunnel, about an inch or more deep, along the wood grain. This space is the larval provision, and the queen lays her eggs in it. She then plugs the end of the tunnel with chewed wood pulp. The female then rears her brood in this tunnel, and the larvae feed on the pollen and nectar as they grow. The young bees emerge from their tunnel during the summer months and build on their old tunnels. They can seriously damage a wood member if they are not removed from a tree or woodwork.
The Xylocopa virginica, a member of the Xvlocarpa family, excavates carefully rounded galleries in wood. These creatures are often a nuisance in the wood of old trees, but they are very beneficial to humans. They may be a nuisance, but they are not considered pests. Wood bees, including the eastern Xylocopa virginica, can take up residence in structural timbers and fence posts. They lay huge eggs, up to 15 mm long. They form partitions between egg cells that are filled with sawdust and saliva.
Unpainted wood
Carpenter bees prefer bare, unpainted wood. They do not attack painted surfaces, but will drill into stained and distressed wood. Painting will prevent them from recognizing the wood as wood. Use a product such as Energy Seal to prevent carpenter bee damage. If you already have holes, this product can be used to repair them. Just remember that it will not stop live adult bees from drilling into the wood, but it will keep them from making their home in your home.
Bees feed on plant nectar. Once they’re mated, they begin constructing new tunnels. The entrance hole begins upward for a half-inch or more and turns horizontally to follow the wood grain. The galleries are generally 6 to 7 inches long and can reach several feet. When constructing their nest, several bees may use the same entrance hole. The new generation of bees emerges later in the summer and forages on flowers. In the fall, they return to wood for hibernation.
Softwoods
Honey bees and wood bees live in colonies. While honey bees and ground bees build their hives in the earth, wood bees like softwoods and will make their nests on the siding of a house. The larvae feed on pollen, which is collected by the bees from flowers, and they emerge from their cells as adults in late summer. The adult bees continue to build their nests and tunnels as the population grows.
Carpenter bees are large black insects that build their nests in wood. They use their powerful jaws to chew through softwoods and create a hole about half an inch wide. They then lay their eggs in separate chambers. Carpenter bees have strong jaws and a long lifespan. They can be found in both solitary and colony conditions. Wood bees are common in both urban and suburban areas.
Bamboo
The latest bad boy in the world of mason bees is bamboo tubes. These tubes take account of all the bad things that can happen to mason bees. And they don’t actually kill them. Ten years ago, drilled wooden blocks were the problem. They harbored disease, multiplied predators, and even grew mold. They probably made the bees delusional and were a clear sign that the mason beekeepers were inept.
Honey bees are no exception. Females lay eggs close to flowers and regurgitate wood pulp as a barrier for the developing larvae. In about a week, the eggs hatch. The larvae feed on the pollen while the female bees build new chambers in the same wood. The new generation of adult bees emerge later in summer, foraging on flowers. In the fall, they return to the wood for hibernation.
