Darrell did an excellent job. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. I was satisfied with him and the whole Liberty team. Will recommend them to friends and family. Nice, professional and very good at keeping you up to date with times and schedules.
Carpenter Bee Control for Homes and Businesses
Carpenter bees are large, shiny black bees that drill round holes in bare or weathered wood. They aren't part of Liberty's plans, so carpenter bee treatment starts with a free inspection.
How to identify
- Large, sturdy bees that look like bumble bees.
- A shiny, mostly hairless black abdomen, while bumble bees are fuzzy with yellow bands.
- Males hover near nest holes and have a yellow or white patch on the face.
Common carpenter bees in our area
Eastern carpenter bee
Xylocopa virginica
- Look for
- A large bee that looks like a bumble bee but has a shiny, bare black abdomen instead of a fuzzy striped one; males have a white spot on the face.
- Where you'll find it
- Chews perfectly round holes in eaves, fascia boards, siding, decks and outdoor furniture, especially bare, weathered softwood.
Signs you have them
- Round, clean holes about ½ inch wide in wood
- Sawdust below holes in eaves, decks, fascia boards or railings
- Yellowish stains below the holes
- Bees hovering around eaves or decks in spring
Where they're found
Carpenter bees drill into bare or weathered softwood, like eaves, fascia boards, decks, porch ceilings, railings and wooden outdoor furniture.
How Liberty treats it
Starts with a free inspection
Inspection
Carpenter bee treatment starts with a free inspection. A local Service Advisor does a thorough inspection to see how many holes and bees there are, where they are drilling and what draws them, like bare, unpainted or weathered wood on eaves, decks and railings.
Treatment
- Treat the holesYour Service Specialist treats inside the active holes, where the bees and their young are.
- Treat nearby woodThey also treat the wood around the holes, like eaves, fascia boards and deck rails, where carpenter bees are drilling.
- Wood care tipsThey show you which bare or weathered wood to paint or stain, since carpenter bees prefer unfinished wood.
Follow-up
Your Service Specialist comes back for follow-up visits as needed to check for new holes. Carpenter bees aren't part of our plans, but a pest control plan, with visits every 3 months, helps keep everyday pests like ants and spiders away.
What our customers say
Reviews from our Google Business Profile.
Reviews and rating from Google, updated November 5, 2026.
Voted best pest control
Paducah Sun readers and West Kentucky Star voters chose Liberty as the best pest control: Readers' Choice in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and People's Choice in 2026 and 2027.
- The Paducah Sun Readers' Choice · Best Pest Control 2024, 2025, 2026
- West Kentucky Star · People's Choice 2026, 2027
- Marshall County Tribune-Courier · Best Pest Control 2025, 2026
- Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year · John Stopka 2025
What it costs
FreeInspection
Your Service Advisor looks at the problem first and goes over your options.
DIY prevention tips
- Paint or stain bare wood such as eaves, fascia, trim and decks, since weathered, unpainted wood is their favorite.
- Choose painted, pressure-treated or composite materials for new trim and decking.
- Fill old nest holes with a glued wooden dowel or wood putty and paint over them so they aren't reused.
- Keep garage and shed doors closed in spring while the bees are hunting for nest sites.
Common questions
Are carpenter bees covered by my plan?
No. Carpenter bees aren't part of our plans. They start with a free inspection.
How can I tell a carpenter bee from a bumble bee?
Carpenter bees have a shiny, mostly hairless black abdomen. Bumble bees have a fuzzy abdomen with yellow bands.
What attracts carpenter bees?
Carpenter bees look for bare, unpainted or weathered softwood, like pine and cedar on eaves, decks, fascia boards and railings. Old holes also draw them back year after year.
Do carpenter bees eat wood?
No. Carpenter bees drill tunnels in wood to lay their eggs, and they push the sawdust out of the hole.
When are carpenter bees most active?
Carpenter bees are most active in spring, when they come out to mate and drill new nests. Activity slows by fall, when they settle back into their tunnels.
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