Much like the lone rangers of the wild west, carpenter bees are solitary creatures, living life on their own terms. Female carpenter bees do have a bit of a sting, but only when they’re feeling cornered and threatened. There’s a tall tale going around that a sting means death for these ladies – quite the myth, I tell ya! Their smooth stingers are like reusable needles, ready to strike multiple times.
These lumber-loving insects are fans of the soft, unpainted variety of wood – cedar, redwood, or pine, they love ’em all. They won’t say no to treated wood either, but they do tend to prefer raw untreated boards.