Deterring carpenter bees

Factual Questions
1

In the thread about bumblebees’ stinging ability, the discussion touched upon carpenter bees - which have developed a taste for my home. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about how to dissuade these buggers from munching on my house.

Most things I read said they will not bore through finished wood. But these guys have no objection to drilling through my 3 year old painted cedar siding. So far, they have restricted their attention to one corner, behind the drainpipe. On Saturday I sprayed poison and dust in the existing 3 holes. Last evening I detected 2 new holes higher up, which I sprayed and dusted.

So far, I am pretty fortunate that they have chosen relatively easily accesible places for me to reach, because the way my house is situated, the could choose some spots that would definitely be more of a hassle to get at. As I said, my house is all painted, except for an older treated wood deck in the back. So far they seem not to have noticed the deck.

Just wondering, how many times do I have to poison existing holes before they decide to try someplace else? Is there anything else I can do to discourage them? It is kinda frustrating, feeling you need to be on the lookout for bees, and then trying to follow them to see if they are going to a particular place on your house. Any idea on how long their nesting season lasts?

2

When I was growing up, my third grandfather (very very close friend of the family) would actually shoot them with .22 cal ratshot. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS. At the farm I grew up on, we had really good luck with actually hitting them and killing them with a badmitton racket. Every spring, we would just spend a few days bopping them and taking them out of business and then there wouldn’t be any more for several months. From what I understand they are pretty teritorial creatures and will stick to their own ground.

Best of luck to you, they can tear up a nice chunk of your house in a few years time.