Carpenter Bees in neighbors fence?-kinda long rant!!

[kate0305]

I read through the thread about paying for neighbor's fence, hoping to find an answer. No such luck. . .drat.

The fence on the right hand side (if standing at the back door, looking out into the yard) is a wood privacy fence attached to a waist high chain link fence. The previous people who lived in that house put it up on the chain link (link was there when we moved in, not wood), so I am going to assume it is that house's fence, since we had no part of it, right?

So, since it is so ugly, I wanted to do some landscaping along it earlier this spring. And lo and behold some big, and I mean really big, bees start buzzing around me. No stings, but scary!!! Thanks to the handy internet, I discover that they are carpenter bees, which drill holes in wood to lay eggs, etc. I figure- it's their fence, the bees don't sting, not to worry. If it cracks, it is their problem, right? And landscaping can wait. . .

We just put up this HUGE wooden playset last weekend. Since then big old bees have been buzzing around it, maybe checking out possible new digs? I can only believe that they are scouts from the fence colony.

I have to admit, I don't care for those neighbors, ever since they trimmed the tree that is on the property line, and put the trimming in our yard for junk pickup. My DH says to not hold against them, they probably thought since the bulk of the tree is in our yard, the trimmings must be ours too. . . but I still think they are rude neighbors. And the husband has an extremely LOUD camaro that he starts early in the morning, RIGHT under our bedroom window.

So I appeal to all you neutral DIS folks, since I am not happy and probably irrational. Obviously the bees must go. Anyone have a clue who's financial responsibility it is? Ours or the fence owning neighbors? All help gratefully appreciated.

 

[seashoreCM]

All female bees (queen and workers) sting. (Male bees do not sting.)

Just get a can of bee or hornet spray and you can hit the nest from about ten feet away. This one is not worth fussing over.

The neighbor who cut the tree should have arranged for disposal of the debris.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[ampooh]

Sorry but bees are bees . It's not the neighbors fault they are there. They go to wood everywhere. decks, porches, wood houses. everywhere. They destroy things rather quickly too.



It's not like the neighbors expected Carpenter bees to attack the fence.

any damage cost belongs to whoever owns the damaged property.

I'd be looking for a way to get them gone myself if I were you.

 

[mjbaby]

There are some fairly benign things you can use on the wood playset to discourage the bees from boring into it. I've read of WD-40, brushing with (used) motor oil and a few other options being effective and serving to make the wood less palatable to the bees. Whatever you decide to do, keep your kids off the set while the treatment gets into the wood and dries.

As irritating as this is - and we wrestle with the bees, too - it's not your neighbors' fault. They're a product of the great outdoors and not something that you can lay blame for.

 

[Chilehead Too]

Sorry but bees are bees . It's not the neighbors fault they are there.
I'd be looking for a way to get them gone myself if I were you.

I agree, bees are not the fault of anyone. They just are.

 

[kate0305]

I am not blaming the neighbors for the fence or the bees, I'm sorry if I gave that impression. I just am wondering if they should have to pay for the fence treatment, since it is their fence- even though the bees are in our yard.

you all probably got the idea I am blaming the neighbors because I don't like them. . .

 

[msmayor]

I don't think they have any obligation whatsoever to get rid of the bees.

If you decide to have them exterminated, though, you should discuss it with them beforehand and explain why you want the bees taken care of. They may offer to share the cost with you, or they'll just say "Go for it" and have you foot the bill.

You should not, however, arrange to treat the fence without their permission.

 

[Princess Stitch]

I say if you have kids and you're concerned about your property and the safety of your family, just get the bees taken care of yourself. In the end it will save you a lot of headache. Your neighbour may just not care about the fence or the bees.

 

[pbharris4]

To stop the carpenter bees, you can either paint of stain the swing set and/or fence. The bees look for untreated wood. They will come back ever year and usually to the same spot. If they already dug a hole, you can get something to stick in there and then use a wooden dowl to seal it. Who pays? I don't know, but if were on my side I would.

 

[lostmom]

I am all too familliar with those carpenter bees. we had them in our old house. they do come back year after year and yes they do look for new places. I hired an exterminator and he had to come back a lot to do all the new holes. but thank goodness it was on the plan that I signed up for. I would ask you neibhor if he knows about the bees and see if he wants to get rid of them. good luck! maybee he will move soon!

 

[tink2dw]

"the nesting habits of the two types of bees are quite different. Bumble bees usually nest in the ground whereas carpenter bees tunnel into wood to lay their eggs. Bare, unpainted or weathered softwoods are preferred, especially redwood, cedar, cypress and pine.

Painted or pressure-treated wood is much less susceptible to attack.

Better Check these, too!

Common nesting sites include eaves, window trim, facia boards, siding, wooden shakes, decks and outdoor furniture."

Let the Kids chose Disney Paint colors to paint the Playset, and your side of their fence!

 

[ceecee]

Sorry but bees are bees . It's not the neighbors fault they are there. They go to wood everywhere. decks, porches, wood houses. everywhere. They destroy things rather quickly too.



It's not like the neighbors expected Carpenter bees to attack the fence.

any damage cost belongs to whoever owns the damaged property.

I'd be looking for a way to get them gone myself if I were you.

They get in our wooden (treated) playset as well and DD got stung at the neighbors on theirs so I imagine they also have them. We also have the big slide and get wasps nests under it every year so we just spray. There are no wooden fences anywhere near us, so I think it's a commom problem, not just because the neighbor has a wooden fence.

 

[dsnymomof4]

We've had carpenter bees around our wooden swingset and shed for years now. When I first noticed them years ago, I called the exterminator and a very nice, honest man told me that they could come out and fill the wholes and try to get rid of them, but they will only come back, so it would pretty much be a waste of money. He also told me that, in fact, they do not sting - they do not have stingers. So, we've just accepted them as an annoying, but harmless, part of spring. They usually are only around for a month or so, then we don't see them too much during the summer.

 

[dizcrazy]

Bottom line is that something shoud be done about the bees.

Since you aren't friendly (or friends) with the neighbors, I think you should tell them about it and offer to share the costs with them. 50/50 split

Best case scenario:
They offer to pay all costs. (That is what I would do, but this sounds unlikely)

Possible: 50/50 split

Worst case: You pay everything. But if you don't ask, you pay everything anyway!

 

[LSchrow]

we've had many years of carpenter bees. they are LARGE and EXTREMELLY aggressive (i HATE when they divebomb my head ). every summer, one or two hover in front of our bay window, watching us through the glass. if someone (even one of our cats or our dog) goes near the window, they dive into the window!!
that said, those are the male "guard" bees, who do not have stingers...

just a suggestion:
whenever one of our neighbors has an "infestation", DH offers to help exterminate them (since nature does not recognize property lines , their "problem" will eventually affect our time outdoors ).
& working with a neighbor on a "problem" helps build great friendships..

her's some info about CBs & getting rid of them:
http://www.pestproducts.com/carpenterbees.htm