What type of damage is commonly caused by carpenter bees?

Carpenter bees are known for their unique behavior of boring into wood to create nests. They typically create small, round holes—about half an inch in diameter—on the surface of wood structures, which is characteristic of their nesting habits. These small holes are the primary sign of their presence and indicate where they have excavated wood to create tunnels for laying eggs.

While carpenter bees can cause some damage to wooden structures over time due to their tunneling, it is usually not as extensive or severe as the type of large structural damage associated with other pests. Their activity tends to be more localized, primarily affecting the outer surfaces of wood, which is why the presence of small holes is a more accurate indicator of their impact.

The other types of damage refer to conditions not typically associated with carpenter bees. For example, wood rot is typically a result of fungi that thrive in damp conditions, while termite tunnels are indicative of a completely different pest that causes much more extensive damage. Therefore, the identification of small holes as the damage caused by carpenter bees accurately reflects their biological behavior and nesting habits.