Carpenter bees and cedar

[Richard]

I've got a voice in the back of my head saying that I've read somewhere that cedar is naturally insect repellent. If that is not true, the following won't matter.

If it IS true.... then here's my question. Wife at an estate sale, came across a number of rough cut boards. Person told her they were white oak. Well.... they're not. Be that as it may, there are several rough cedar slabs. Still has bark on outside edges.... I've got ability to cut/plane...so here's my question finally!

If I cut these up and make some bee traps, because they are cedar, will the carpenter bees avoid them or will that be an issue? These are about the right thickness to do this. If the bees would avoid them simply because they're cedar, I can use some of the other boards she's got but have to plan them down further....

I'd rather plane the boards down and have some traps that work instead of using what I have and the (*#&$FC"EWR bees avoid them, rendering them useless!

Anyone know?

 

[Richard]

Thought I'd mention, I looked online and found:

"Carpenter bees are attracted to cedar wood and prefer untreated, unpainted wood. To prevent infestations, consider using carpenter bee-resistant wood, such as cedar, redwood, and pressure-treated lumber. Carpenter bees burrow into woods to build a nest for themselves and their offspring, so it is crucial to protect your property with simple prevention and control tips."

So, they are attracted to cedar..... but to prevent them, use cedar?

 

[rswyan]

House here is cedar sided with some redwood used for decking and trim.

Carpenter bees seem to have no issues with burrowing into it to make nests/lay eggs.

Wood is old though (built in ‘69)

 

[ponytug]

We had a cedar shingled (roof, and walls) home for a twenty plus years, and within 2-3 years of construction, some type of solitary bees had moved in. In that time, the bees didn't do visible damage, nor hidden damage in the two sections that needed to be removed for other reasons.

Ours were a small blue /black bodied bee, smaller than a honey bee. Ceratina, perhaps?

@Richard, I think some of the confusion may be what species of bee is under discussion, as there are many "carpenter bee" species, with very different behavior.

All the best, Peter

 

[Grumpycat]

I made several carpenter bee traps of 4x4 cedar which have trapped many bees.

 

[tmcj]

Carpenter bees bored holes all through my kids cedar play set. It was about 16 years old at that point though. Not sure if age has anything to do with it but they never bothered it before that.

 

[John0829]

Don't believe that pressure treated lumber will stop the bees either, we have PT boards on the fence around the house and they just love them as well as the PT boards on the tandem trailer which I have also sprayed both the top and the underside with diesel/used motor oil and yet they still attack it.

 

[Redbug]

Don't believe that pressure treated lumber will stop the bees either, we have PT boards on the fence around the house and they just love them as well as the PT boards on the tandem trailer which I have also sprayed both the top and the underside with diesel/used motor oil and yet they still attack it.

You are right on the pressure treated stuff. They bore into them and are not deterred. I think the treating does not go very deep and once inside it is untreated wood.

 

[ponytug]

You are right on the pressure treated stuff. They bore into them and are not deterred. I think the treating does not go very deep and once inside it is untreated wood.

You are right. The treatment is 1/8-1/4" deep in most cases.

All the best, Peter

 

[jk96]

Cedar will work just fine for your bee traps. I actually have a couple made out of cedar that work great