E-TEX Auto Glass

Dreaded carpenter bee season is here and I am not about to let them turn my rafters into Swiss cheese.

That brown paper bag hanging up there is one of the oldest tricks in the book. It mimics a hornet nest and that is enough to make most carpenter bees think twice. They are territorial and do not like setting up shop where they believe another stinging insect already claimed the area.

How to make one
1️⃣ Take a brown paper bag or plastic bag
2️⃣ Stuff it with more bags to give it shape
3️⃣ Tie it off into a loose round form
4️⃣ Add a couple dark spots to look like entry holes
5️⃣ Hang it high under eaves or rafters

A couple things I have learned over the years. Plastic holds up better in rain and wind. Moving them every now and then helps sell the illusion. Most important is getting them up early before the bees start drilling.

Some folks will argue this does nothing. All I can tell you is every shed and shop on the Ridge has one and I drill a whole lot less holes than I used to.

Simple. Cheap. And it just makes sense to try before breaking out the tools and fillers. Some people even say it scares away the wasps but I have not found this to be the case on the Ridge.

Have you tried this trick and did it work for you?