# I just found a carpenter bee in my house. Should I panic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 11, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-a-carpenter-bee-in-my-house-should-i-panic/585061 "2011-06-11T02:48:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-a-carpenter-bee-in-my-house-should-i-panic/585061/1 "2011-06-11T02:48:36Z")
So here I am, sitting at the computer, when I happen to glance over at my window, and there on the blinds is this huge black bug. Looked almost like a bumblebee, but wasn’t quite the right shape. After disposing of the creature, I do some searching around and find that this must definitely be a carpenter bee. I live in Los Angeles, in a townhouse that I own. Coincidentally, my complex has a termite problem that we recently discovered and exterminators are coming out on Monday to spray for those. I haven’t found a hole yet, but I don’t know how else it could have gotten inside. I doubt I would have unknowingly allowed one of these monsters to fly through my door. I haven’t seen any others, though, and I’ve never seen one around here before. Is seeing just one of these bees typically a sign of a larger problem that needs immediate attention? Is there anything in particular I should be looking for (aside from the obvious hole in the wall)? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-a-carpenter-bee-in-my-house-should-i-panic/585061/2 "2011-06-11T03:59:12Z")
No. Carpenter bees are solitary, and while they can bore large holes, generally don’t do any structural damage, unlike termites or carpenter ants. There is essentially nothing that can be done toward them off, so just kill any ones you find, if you are so inclined (I kind of like them, myself…). ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-a-carpenter-bee-in-my-house-should-i-panic/585061/3 "2011-06-11T04:01:31Z")
> [@](#): > > A few species bore holes in wood dwellings. Since the tunnels are near the surface, structural damage is generally minor or nonexistent. [wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpenter_bee#Characteristics) ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-a-carpenter-bee-in-my-house-should-i-panic/585061/4 "2011-06-11T05:15:00Z")
No nothing to freak about. Quite harmless. ---
**Author:** ![ramel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@ramel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramel)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-a-carpenter-bee-in-my-house-should-i-panic/585061/5 "2011-06-11T10:55:30Z")
If you ask it nicely, it may help you put up some shelves. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-a-carpenter-bee-in-my-house-should-i-panic/585061/6 "2011-06-11T11:26:29Z")
YES!! PaNIC NOW!!!