The American Southeast is somewhat infamous for the number of bugs, including bees, that are present during the spring and summer months. If, however, you notice more bees than usual in your North Carolina or South Carolina home, there is a chance that your siding is to blame for the problem. In this guide, you’ll discover exactly how bees and siding often don’t mix and, perhaps even more importantly, what to do if you find that a bee infestation has invaded your home.
How do bees get under siding?
When you look at vinyl siding with a layman’s eye, it appears that each board is flush against the next and there is no discernible way bees or other pests could burrow underneath. In reality, though, there are several ways for bees to get between siding boards and into your walls, even on newer homes. As a matter of fact, if your house was newly constructed within the past two decades, the odds are fairly good that the builders failed to cover-up the fascia trim that was undoubtedly used as a finishing detail on your residence. The resulting exposed section is the perfect place for bees to penetrate.
If you don’t have vinyl siding, the odds of a bee infestation are even higher. Wood siding, for instance, is any wood boring bee’s dream home. It is easy for this species to burrow directly into wood siding, even if it was properly installed. If there are any gaps or holes, the insects’ task is even easier.
Can a bee infestation lead to other problems?
While having bees in your walls is, of course, a problem in and of itself, it can actually lead to several other issues. Woodpeckers, for example, feed on bees, so if you have bees living under your siding, there’s a high probability you will also find yourself dealing with a woodpecker problem. Woodpeckers are frustrating for multiple reasons. Not only do they destroy wood siding, trim, and other features, but their general racket can make it difficult to sleep or relax.
What can be done about a bee issue?
If you discover that you do, in fact, have a bee infestation underneath your home’s siding, the best thing to do is hire professional exterminators to handle the problem for you. While there are insecticides and sprays on the market that are designed to kill bees, there is no guarantee they will completely eliminate a large infestation. Instead, work with reputable local experts who have years of experience working with homeowners in your region of North Carolina or South Carolina.
If you’ve never needed an exterminator in the past, the best place to start looking for recommendations is the web. There are numerous consumer review sites where you can see unbiased reports about various Carolina bee exterminators. Furthermore, you may want to contact a general contractor about possibly replacing wood siding with vinyl or fiber cement. This will reduce the chance of a future bee infestation from occurring. Best of luck!