What The Hell Do I Have Here - Pests? Right?... What Kind?

CGofMP

Yesterday I was assessing the painting job I needed to do on this east facing covered porch. I noticed that on the support 2x6's there was something that looked like it might be some rot to dig out and patch.



Upon closer examination I noted that these little 'rot places' were actually holes of some sort and the 'holes' were fpacked ull of plant debris... small leaves or parts thereof.



WHen I dug the crap out of them, nothing came to greet or bite me... no insects or whatever. I found no bodies or anything.



Any idea what I am dealing with here?

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jmic

Them fricken squirls find the damnest places to store thier food ,don't they?

K2

I vote squirrels nest. They like to dig a pocket in the wood not realizing it is only 3/8 thick.

CGofMP

I forgot to add a URL which has some more photographs:
Some extra photos of the affected area

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CGofMP

While you guys have a lot more experience than I do, but I'd be surprised if this is squirrels.... We have a dog that just would not stand for them to be in her area, and the holes are smaller than I'd expect them to be for this.

You guys might be right..

From the size, I was thinking insects :-(

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jmic

Them there squirrels are pretty smart, ever see that car insurance commercial?
Joe

K2

I thought we were looking at soffit material. I take my vote back. i've never seen anything like that. hope those little bugs don't come my way.

reveivl

Who cares what kind of bug it is? Just hope they keep on leaving you all those dollar bills.

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trimgod

i ususally leave 20's. get a broom and sweep it up and get back to work!!!!

CGofMP

LOL!



Sadly I stole that dollar bill from my kid. The damned bugs leave nothing but holes. Needed something to show size with when I was shooting the photos. Could more easily tape a dollar bill up there than a dime :-)

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Teetorbilt

We get them here too, a couple of different types of BEES. Some make holes about the diameter of a pencil and others will be about 1/2".

I pack the holes with Bondo and paint over. Here's a way to sell paint jobs, they don't like paint and won't attack a painted surface. Miss one spot, smaller than a pinhead, and away they go.

You may want to Google 'leaf cutter bees' and 'wood boring bees' and see if you can find the culprit for your area.

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CGofMP

Teetor... So far you are the one in line for the cupie doll!

I called a couple of local pest control folks today after I posted here and described the problem.

I guess in Calif you need seprate liscences to do different types of pests...

One guy did not hesitate, nor did he want to look at the pics, but he said based on what I told him it was indeed ..yep BEES.

The next guy who did load the pics made it clear he was not a Wood Boring Insects liscencee and could not tell me anyhting on the record but he too strongly suspected it was bees. He gave me the name of another guy who he is close friends with and said to double check with him. He was a little unsure because of the exact roundness of the leaf cuts and the fact some of the holes were elongated instead of round.

I'll give his friend a call when he gets back on the 4th.

Sounds however like you hit this one on the head including the remediation, simply dig it out add wood putty, sand and paint. The second guy said that the bumble bees did not like newly painted surfaces.

Of course this whole episode means that I really need to get on with addrerssing what I posted about in this thread .... so the silly bees do not decide to nest in the damned undershot area with all that exposed wood. *GROAN*

I googled the terms you suggested Teetor and I have learned a lot more than I wanted to know about 'solitary bees'. Actually it was fascinating for the first hour.

I never did find any pictures of exactly what I have here, but got fairly close.

Anyhow, as always thanks a bunch...

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