In the late spring and early summer, Indiana homeowners often notice large, black bees hovering around the outside of their homes, buildings, or any outside wooden structure. They look as if they are just hovering! Then if you watch them closely, they chase away any other bees that come close to their favorite spot these are probably carpenter bees searching for mates.

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Male carpenter bees can be quite aggressive, but the males are quite harmless since they lack stingers. Female carpenter bees can inflict a sting but seldom will unless they are handled or provoked.

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The main problem with Carpenter bees are that if left untreated, they can do a lot of damage to the wood structure of your home and will have to be replaced. 

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Carpenter bees and bumblebees in Zionsville look very similar! The simplest rule of thumb for telling them apart is that most carpenter bees have a shiny abdomen, whereas bumblebee abdomens are completely covered with dense hair. Despite their similar appearance, the nesting habits of the two types of bees are quite different. Bumble bees usually nest in the ground whereas carpenter bees tunnel into wood to lay their eggs. Bare, unpainted or weathered softwoods are preferred, especially redwood, cedar, cypress and pine. Painted or pressure-treated wood is much less susceptible to attack. Common nesting sites include eaves, window trim, facia boards, siding, wooden shakes, decks and outdoor furniture.