Carpenter bees are about ¾ to 1-inch long and nest in excavated tunnels in wood. They have a bald abdomen, unlike bumble bees which have a fuzzy rear.
Carpenter bees are native pollinators that are not aggressive. Females are solitary and take care of their own babies.
She drills into wood about a half-inch, then makes a turn and keeps tunneling parallel to the grain of the wood.
Males have no stingers. Females have stingers but it’s highly unlikely she will sting you unless you grab her and squeeze her.
Carpenter bees are less likely to drill into painted wood, hardwoods, and pressure treated wood. They can’t penetrate vinyl siding, aluminum siding, or cement board siding.
Insecticides made for bees applied to a wood surface may be effective for a short time but must be reapplied.
After a week of applying insecticide, plug tunnel entrances with wood putty or caulking compound. Sealing the holes can prevent future nesting and overwintering.