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Those big bees hovering around your eaves and the neat, round holes appearing in your fascia and railings are carpenter bees — and left alone they tunnel deeper every spring and invite woodpeckers that tear the wood open chasing the larvae. New York Exterminating treats the galleries, stops the damage, and seals the wood so they cannot return. The work is led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) licensed in structural pest control, trained on the full range of wood-damaging insects.
The mix-up matters because the two bees need completely different responses. A carpenter bee has a shiny, hairless black abdomen, hovers around eaves and railings, and drills perfectly round half-inch holes — it is a wood-destroying insect. A bumblebee has a fuzzy yellow-and-black abdomen, nests in the ground, and bores nothing; it is a pollinator we do not target. The hovering, dive-bombing bee that alarms you is usually a male carpenter bee that cannot sting at all. So the threat here is structural, not a stinging emergency — though we treat genuine stinging-insect nests too. Identifying carpenter bee versus bumblebee (and versus the wasps people also confuse them with) is the first thing we confirm.
Carpenter bee damage compounds. The bees overwinter inside the old galleries, emerge in spring to reuse and branch them, and new females are drawn to existing holes — so the same fascia or railing gets hollowed a little more every year. Then woodpeckers find the larvae and open the galleries wide, turning a few small holes into real structural and cosmetic repair. The professional fix is sequence-sensitive: we treat the galleries first so the bees inside are eliminated, then seal the holes, because sealing untreated galleries traps bees and invites re-colonization.
They favor bare, weathered softwood that warms in the sun — exactly the untreated eaves, fascia, porch railings, decks, fences, and trim common on houses across the outer boroughs and the metro. South- and east-facing wood that warms early in spring is hit first. Because finished wood is far less attractive to them, a lasting solution pairs treatment with a paint or stain recommendation for the vulnerable surfaces.
1. Identify & inspect. We confirm carpenter bees and map the active galleries and entry holes.
2. Treat the galleries. We treat the tunnels directly so the bees and developing larvae are eliminated.
3. Seal. Once treated, we seal the holes so the galleries cannot be reused next spring.
4. Prevent. We recommend finishing the vulnerable softwood and address conditions that make your trim a target.
Related services: Carpenter Ant & WDI Control, Wasp & Stinging Insect Control, and WDO Inspection.
Yes — we identify the bee, map the galleries, and quote before any work.
Yes — removing the larvae removes what the woodpeckers are after, so the secondary damage stops.
Yes — we are equipped to treat and seal galleries in high fascia, eaves, and railings safely.
Look at the abdomen and the behavior. Carpenter bees have a shiny, hairless black abdomen; bumblebees have a fuzzy, yellow-and-black abdomen. Carpenter bees hover aggressively around eaves, railings, and decks and drill perfectly round, half-inch holes in wood; bumblebees nest in the ground and do not bore. If a large bee is hovering near your trim and you see round holes, it is a carpenter bee.
The males that hover and dive-bomb you are intimidating but cannot sting at all — they have no stinger. The females can sting but are docile and rarely do unless handled. The real danger is structural, not medical: their tunneling weakens wood over time and attracts woodpeckers that tear open the galleries to eat the larvae, multiplying the damage.
A single season’s holes look minor, but carpenter bees reuse and extend the same galleries year after year, and multiple bees working the same fascia or railing can hollow out significant tunneling over time. Add woodpecker damage chasing the larvae, and a cosmetic problem becomes a repair bill. Treating early, before galleries branch, is far cheaper.
Because they are returning to existing galleries. Carpenter bees overwinter in the old tunnels and emerge in spring to reuse and expand them, and new females are attracted to the existing holes. Simply filling a hole without treating the gallery traps bees or invites reuse. We treat the galleries, then seal them properly so they cannot be re-colonized.
Spring, as they become active and start drilling, is ideal — you interrupt the nesting cycle before galleries branch and eggs are laid. We also treat through the summer when activity and damage are visible. The key is treating the galleries before sealing; sealing alone, at the wrong time, makes the problem worse.
Bare, weathered, and unpainted softwood. They favor untreated eaves, fascia, railings, decks, fences, and trim — especially south- and east-facing wood that warms early. Painted and stained wood is far less attractive, which is why treatment plus a finish recommendation is part of a lasting fix.
New York Exterminating, Inc.
1115 E 13th St, Brooklyn, NY 11230
ACE-Certified · Licensed in Structural & Food-Establishment Pest Control · Serving all five boroughs
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Our expertise goes beyond simple extermination. Backed by certified specialists and proven methods, we combine science, precision, and care to deliver pest solutions that last. Every treatment is designed with your safety, comfort, and environment in mind.
Many of our clients have remained with us since 2010, demonstrating strong trust and long-term satisfaction.
Licensed by NYSDEC – Reg. #15140
Serving property managers, senior facilities, shelters, affordable-housing programs, and businesses across NYC since 2010 — many long-term clients trust our work.
Botanical/organic options, German-cockroach elimination and rodent-exclusion programs, full bilingual support (EN/ES), plus a client portal with reports, photos, and chemical logs for total transparency.
NYSDEC Registered — Reg. #15140 — with fully licensed technicians (Jorge Bedoya, Tomas Cusati, Jason Mendoza). We follow all regulations for safe, legal treatments.
Led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (Jorge Bedoya) and technicians trained in urban entomology, we use IPM and proven methods for lasting results.
From first inspection to final follow-up, our science-based process ensures every pest problem is solved with precision, safety, and lasting protection
Find quick answers to common questions about our services, safety practices, and customer support
Yes. We use eco-friendly and low-toxicity treatments designed to protect your family, pets, and the environment.
Yes. We offer bilingual services in English and Spanish to ensure clear communication and support for all our clients across New York City.
We proudly serve all five boroughs of New York City — Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island — as well as surrounding areas.
You can access all your service reports, invoices, and treatment details through our secure online Client Portal. Simply log in anytime to view records, photos, and chemical logs for full transparenc
We specialize in removing rodents, insects, raccoons, and other common pests, providing thorough inspections and effective solutions to keep your home or business pest-free.
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Providing reliable pest control solutions for homes, businesses, and institutions across the NYC metro area
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