Borer Bees?

E

ebendl

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So I have a couple of issues on my roof that needs fixing (mostly gutter related) and I had three companies out today for quotes.

While the second guy from Universal Roofing was here, he noticed that I have borer bees (also known as carpenter bees or Xylocopa).

These bore into the wood and create nests for their young (they don't eat the wood). Apparently they make a hole, then start boring at 90 degrees into the length of the wood and can make quite large tunnels.

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I noticed them (they look and sound like bumble bees) and then noticed them crawling into the holes.

So how do I get rid of them? Of course the guy from Universal Roofing suggest I contact their sister company, Universal Fumigators: http://www.universalfumigators.co.za/pest control services.htm

But he mentioned it is probably going to be around R3k and I'm not sure it will really be long-term treatment. Looking at sites like this http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/carpenter-bees the best approach seems to be to use dust-insecticides and blowing it into the holes. Then do it again later in the season and then when you're sure all of them are dead, use steelwool to seal up the holes, then woodfill it and then paint it. The guy here did suggest I paint with creosote which they tend to avoid.

But the American sites can be useless - I can't find a single powdered insecticide "duster" to buy in SA -- such as https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Killigans-Insecticide-Diatomaceous-Insecticides/dp/B01C36EMNO

Similarly, I have no idea what insecticide to use. Was in Builders briefly this afternoon and saw nothing.
 
I used a can of doom to get rid of my investation, about 3 year ago. Then I plastered the holes and painted over it. Still no sign of them, after that.
 
I had them too.

Used kerosene (sp?). But had one coming back all the time .. fcker.
 
put a couple of the doom foggers in the roof. After a few days pump the holes with a wood filler or silicon.
Creosote also called Carbolineum ( its just a petroleum tar works wonders. No insect would touch wood with that.
 
qscwbt said:
put a couple of the doom foggers in the roof. After a few days pump the holes with a wood filler or silicon.
Creosote also called Carbolineum ( its just a petroleum tar works wonders. No insect would touch wood with that.
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Sorry to say but they still bore in the wood even after painting with Creosote. I had the problem at a previous house. They left the wendy alone - which I found strange - the Wendy was painted with "Waxol", not Creosote. After painting the wood with Creosote I was amazed that they still came back and bored
 
vic777 said:
Sorry to say but they still bore in the wood even after painting with Creosote. I had the problem at a previous house. They left the wendy alone - which I found strange - the Wendy was painted with "Waxol", not Creosote. After painting the wood with Creosote I was amazed that they still came back and bored
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So any suggestions on permanent solutions?
 
ebendl said:
So any suggestions on permanent solutions?
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Poison existing holes. Then fill with wood filler - possibly try Waxol instead of Creosote.

I smack them with a tennis racquet then step on them. Eventually they stop coming.

To be honest, its a difficult problem to solve.
 
ebendl said:
So any suggestions on permanent solutions?
Click to expand...

Kill them.

I think they keep on returning and making new holes. Kill the bunch of them and you should not have any issues. Does it weaken the structure though? Doesn't seem like it's too deep or so many of them that it causes an issue.
 
All my beams and big gate are creosote / carbolineum Treated. And still have not had a single incest touch them.

There a reason why Telkom / Eskom wood poles are creosote treated. Railway sleeper were treated with creosote and would last many years buried in the soil.
 
qscwbt said:
All my beams and big gate are creosote / carbolineum Treated. And still have not had a single incest touch them.

There a reason why Telkom / Eskom wood poles are creosote treated. Railway sleeper were treated with creosote and would last many years buried in the soil.
Click to expand...

I usually try not to sleep with a family member on a gate or beam.
 
Venomous said:
There is a can with a thin pipe nozzle for hard to reach places. I think target makes it. Might be able to fit in those holes.
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Any idea which brand this is? Had a look around today but couldn't find anything.
 
So I've had quotes from:
a) Universal Fumigation. R3 000. They basically spray poison powder into the holes, then spray or paint the wood with a preventative poison. 12 month guarantee. According to one guy from Universal Roofing, carbolineum / creasote doesn't help and they just bore through it again. But another of their own guys says it is fine... ??
b) Mostert Pest control. R1 200. But they just spray everything and come and check again in 2 months. Doesn't really sound like they know what they're doing.
c) Roof and all. Their quote say they spray and then paint everything with 1 layer of carbolineum. R7 850. Unknown guarantee.
d) Pest control specialists. They suggested I buy 10l of Ultrakill Timbre Defense @ R1 500 -- basically this: http://www.cooperses.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ultrakill-Timberdefence-CTX108-1l.jpg

Then I spray it into the holes as far as possible and paint the rest. Product has a 2 year guarantee but would still have to paint the timbre with carbolineum or creosote. And I have to get a painter to paint the poison in the first place.

I've had some good successes with just spraying the bees with Doom or Mortein Powergaurd Easy Reach (has a little pipe to push into the holes) but I doubt it will be very preventative.

Ultimately I think the question is: will carbolineum or creosote prevent them, or will I need to use poison first and then paint carbolineum / creosote in any case?
 
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