Enemies of Wooden Fences

The beauty of a well-made wood fence is quite a sight. However, if left to the rigors of nature, a beautifully built wood fence can become a haven for pests and parasites that can destroy your hard work.

The most notorious wood-destroying offenders come in the form of carpenter bees, termites and carpenter ants. These three species of insects are bent on using your wood fencing as their personal stomping grounds, and if not dealt with, they will have their way. In order to keep your wood fence safe, you will need to know how to identify these pests and protect your fence from an invasion.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees create nests and lay eggs in different wooden structures, especially those that have been neglected and exposed to the weather. This makes wood fencing a preferred nesting spot for carpenter bees.

Carpenter bees are fairly large. They are similar in appearance to bumblebees, but can be distinguished by their solid black abdomen, which has a greenish-purple sheen. The appearance of carpenter bees is quite intimidating, but it is important to note that the males cannot bite or sting, while females will only sting when they are handled directly.

Carpenter bees damage wood fences by boring holes deep into the wood. They do this to create breeding chambers for laying their eggs. These holes can be spotted by their size, which is about the size of a dime. One hole is not enough to cause any significant damage to your wood fence, but when it becomes more densely populated, the wood will begin to weaken and become vulnerable to damage from other pests.

In order to control an outbreak of carpenter bees, take measures to seal up any burrowed holes that you see. This can be done by using a liquid sealant to fill in the hole, and then covering the entrance with wood putty or steel wool. Pesticides can be used in cases where carpenter bee nesting is extreme.