Thanks, Phil

If you can, please forward the photo's as we love seeing any pests in the field. Pictures are both educational and helpful when considering treatment options.

As for what to do; we have a couple of options you might consider. One of the most commonly used product for this kind of problem is the NBS INSECT REPELLENT. This product can be mixed with paint or stain and applied to homes for long term insect repellent action. It's completely organic and doesn't kill anything; it merely acts as a repellent where applied. It can also be applied by mixing it with water and then spraying it on the home or surrounding landscape. Trees and plants are commonly treated to repel all kinds of pests including wasps so I'm sure it will work for this treatment need. However, you might need to step up the treatment to something like the MULTI PURPOSE INSECT KILLER if they really are living in the tree because I'm afraid the NBS won't be strong enough alone.

As for the Multi Purpose Insect Killer; it too is organic but it's a step up from the NBS. It will kill them where they're nesting and soaking down the trunk and limbs of the tree should do the job.

Remember that neither product is permanent and you will need to treat a few times a year if you wish to keep them away during the warm season.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

NBS Insect Repellent:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/repellents/nbs-repellent-insect-spray

Multi Purpose Insect Killer:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/multi-purpose-insect-killer-24-oz

If you read the write up on the NBS INSECT REPELLENT, you'll learn it won't kill anything so it's a good option for deterring this unwanted behavior. However, if the bees have already begun laying eggs, they might be reluctant to move away. Think of it this way.

If you were raising some kids and living in a home which was quite comfortable for you and your family, you wouldn't simply move away if you came home one day and noticed something foul smelling on the siding of the house. And if your kids were inside the home, you'd no doubt make sure they were safe and do whatever you could to make the smell go away so you could continue living there. But you wouldn't readily pick up and leave without trying to make it work first.

The same is true for any bees with an established nest. If you were to spray or pour the NBS down and on the wood where the drilling is happening, no doubt the bees will smell it. But if she's got young or eggs inside the nest, she probably won't just pack up and move. In fact she'll most likely try to wait it out hoping the smell will wane enough to be tolerable. Now there is a chance she will give up easily if the nest is new and not important but it's a 50-50 chance. NBS was really invented to stop new bee activity and not to drive away bees which were already established and nesting with young and it's important to understand this trait of the product.

In summary, there is a good chance the treatment will chase away the bees doing the damage. But if the nest is established with young or eggs, you'll have to treat it with the DRIONE DUST as explained in our CARPENTER BEE CONTROL ARTICLE to get rid of them once and for all.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

NBS Repellent:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/repellents/nbs-repellent-insect-spray

Drione Dust:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page256.html

Carpenter Bee Article:  http://www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control

We have a few options and I expect one will serve your needs adequately. Here are some suggestions.

The first would be the "strongest" option. It's federally exempt due to the fact that it uses food grade actives and is very safe for use around people and animals. ECO IC is a concentrate that can be used inside and outside the home and will no doubt control all the pests you're likely to encounter. It's not a pesticide but it does act like one in that it kills target insects and supplies a lengthy residual or residue that will remain active for some time.

The second option would be the BUG PATROL RTS. This is an organic spray that can't be used inside but instead is designed for use around the home. It's highly effective on tough to kill bugs like roaches and ants. By spraying once a quarter (every three months), you'd knock down the local insect population and in theory effectively reduce the odds of any coming inside. This approach is actually  much more effective compared to waiting till you see them inside and then spraying where everyone lives. Getting bugs outside the home, before they get inside, is a better approach and this product is one of the best organic options when using this method.

The third option would be the HOUSE PLANT INSECT KILLER. Labeled for use inside the home, on house plants and pretty much anywhere, it's ready to spray (comes in a can) and is very handy to have for spot treating. Use as needed or every 2 months. It won't be the most cost effective material to use if you're house is large but it might have a place in your overall program since it can be used as much as needed, is organic and can be applied on any vegetable plant inside or out in the yard around the home.

Lastly, you could opt for a total non pesticide approach with the pure INSECT REPELLENT. This product is to be used outside only and is mostly used as a paint or stain additive. When used in this fashion, it can repel pests for 1-2 years including all the ones you listed above. When used as a spray, results won't be as long but you should still get 2-3 months of residual. This would be the most "green" option as it's not a pesticide and won't kill anything. Given the location of the home, I'm not sure this will prove effective enough for your needs but it might.

In summary, all of these options are included on this site and considered non toxic when compared to traditional pesticides. Hopefully one of these options will fulfill your requirement. Here are links to the products mentioned above:

ECO IC:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/eco-exempt-ic-concentrate

Bug Patrol:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/bug-patrol-rts

House Plant Killer:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/aerosols/houseplant-insect-killer-10-oz

Insect Repellent: http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/repellents/nbs-repellent-insect-spray

The products found on NON-TOXIC-PEST-CONTROL are all alternative or "safer" type sprays. These products have been categorized by the federal government as very safe to use because they have little to no impact on the local environment. In fact, these products are essentially exempt from all the general labeling requirements traditional pesticides must file and process before they can be sold. You can confidently apply any of the exempt products listed on our pages to the play set directly and it won't pose a hazard to your family, pets or environment.

With this information, you can now use these "alternative" products in place of the pesticides. Though these won't last as long they will cure the problem and should prove up to the task. The main difference will be you may have to apply more and do an extra treatment or two since you won't be allowed nearly as much leeway in making a mistake.

The first thing you should do is to go back to our CARPENTER BEE CONTROL ARTICLE and identify if you would want to use the dust or liquid concentrate for your particular problem. For example, DRIONE is recommended for dusting nests in our article. On this site, you'll find MOTHERS EARTH DE DUST, which is a great alternative, as is the CONCERN DE DUST. Apply them with a BULB DUSTER and you'll take care of any carpenter bee nest directly treated with either material.

In place of the CYPERMETHRIN, a true pesticide, you can opt for the INSECT REPELLENT listed on this site. It won't kill foraging bees but it will do a good job of repelling them from your structure which in turn will prevent new nests from forming.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Carpenter Bee Article:  http://www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control

Drione Dust: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page256.html

Mothers Earth Dust:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/dust/mothers-earth-diatomaceous-dust

DE Dust:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/dust/concern-diatomaceous-earth

Bulb Duster:  http://www.gotosprayer.com/dusters/hand-dusters/crusader-hand-duster

Cypermethrin:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page259.html

Insect Repellent: http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/repellents/nbs-repellent-insect-spray