What on earth is this thing?

[dayna]

So I was walking my goat. (yeah I walk my goats) and saw an old tree. With lots of dime-penny sized holes in it. At first I thought someone had been playing with a drill bit.

Then a large black winged creature flew out and at me. I didn't take the time to look at it, I booked it out of the area!

Anyone know what this is and do I wanna eradicate it or not? It's pretty close to my house. And if I do want to eradicate it, how?

I can probably get a pic of the dead tree with holes, but in no way shape or form am I getting close enough to get a photo of the winged creatures!

Yeah, my hubby terracore will be dealing with this once I know what it is. lol

Dayna

http://www.FarmingAloha.com
www.E-Z-Caps.com

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Carpenter Bee? Was it about the size of a large bumblebee?
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollina...mon_lg.jpg

[bluesboy]

sounds like a ring wraith

[Obie]

That's a carpenter bee and they are fairly harmless and good pollinators.

[dayna]

Okay, we'll let alone then. I've got a lot of bees around here and enjoy them. I was worried it was some sort of wasp or something scary!

Dayna

http://www.FarmingAloha.com
www.E-Z-Caps.com

[kalakoa]

The female bees are black; males are gold or tan.

They are very timid and will not sting unless provoked.

[rainyjim]

I agree, carpenter bees;they are indeed quite harmless, however, they are also very dumb. If you get them inside a screened in lanai, your car, or your hale you will have a hard time getting them out. They are very annoying because of the incredible buzzing noise they generate, and you'll be temporarily terrified everytime they whhhhhzzzz past you!

Great post.

Aloha mai kakou

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

As kalakoa noted, best not to provoke them. When my son was younger, he and two friends decided one afternoon to attach some fishing line to a few carpenter bees, and fly them like kites. They got the first one harnessed up OK, but then, well, I guess they provoked the next one, and that was the end of that. They never tried it again.

[Kelena]

They are not very good carpenters. Not sure where they got their name. They tend to make a lot of big holes in things made out of wood. Never seen one build anything. They do pollinate, though, and have a special affection for lilikoi. I think they get a buzz off of it.

[leilaniguy]

My understanding is they bore the holes to make nests. I've been told they are a major pollinater for lillikoi and passion fruit.