It’s too late to avoid carpenter bee damage if they’ve already bored into the fence posts of part of your deck and turned them into Swiss cheese. But there is Ways to prevent carpenter bees And keep them away. The best options are non-lethal, as carpenter bees are pollinators – perhaps not as important as bees in this regard, but entomologists still consider them beneficial. The fact is, the world needs all the bees it can get, so if you want to keep them safely away, a number of essential oils can help.
is the most commonly mentioned one Peppermint oil, which is effective against ants and other insects. It is harmless, so there is no reason to try it. A number of bee-related sites recommend it, some saying its strong scent is known to repel bees. However, what the science suggests is that peppermint oil’s effects on bees are more complex. According to research reported by Oil SensPeppermint oil can actually support bee activity rather than discourage it. Beekeepers have noticed that bees pollinate peppermint flowers and also make peppermint honey, and carpenter bees like many of the same things as bees, so peppermint oil may actually attract them. This is not to discourage the use of peppermint oil, as many bug experts recommend it, so if you want to try it, we will describe some ways to use it recommended by bee experts.
How to repel bees with peppermint oil
At a little over $3 per ounce, peppermint oil is too expensive to use on its own, and it can be too pungent for some people. While some believers in peppermint oil’s repelling power recommend simply diluting it with water, other professionals offer a more detailed application protocol: Fill a spray bottle with water, add 10 to 20 drops of peppermint oil, and then top the mixture with two tablespoons of liquid soap or Murphy’s Oil Soap. Presumably, this creates a longer-lasting bee deterrent, since peppermint-scented soap does not evaporate as quickly as peppermint-scented water.
If you like the idea of infusing the wood with the soothing scent of peppermint, and you’re not on a budget, you might want to consider wiping the oil full strength on the wood instead of diluting it to make a spray. A strong odor may be a better deterrent. If the beekeepers are right, and the oil really does attract bees, other essential oils have a better record of repelling carpenter bees.
One is citrus oil derived from orange peel (and to a lesser extent lemon peel). It contains d-limonene, a compound with known insect repellent properties. You can make your own citrus spray by boiling orange or lemon peels in a pot of water and pouring the water into a spray bottle after it cools. Two other essential oils that beekeepers often recommend Eucalyptus oil is a natural repellent for carpenter bees and almond oil.
