Carpenter Bees and My Blink Camera

May 13, 2020 3:57 PM

I recently installed a Blink security system outside my home and it's great, but the one on my deck is constantly going off because it appears to be where a Carpenter Bee is protecting a nest. The bee keeps setting off the camera. I don't want to hurt a pollinator. How do I convince the bee to move, or adjust the camera to stop noticing the bee?

The view where the camera is currently is perfect as it's one of the few places that looks over the back door and the entire deck, so I could move it, but I'd lose visibility of part of the deck. I'm hoping for something more like a way to shoo the bee, or discourage it from flying so close to the camera. I'm hoping for a behavior modifier.

posted by Stanczyk to Pets & Animals (3 answers total)

Only male carpenter bees defend a territory near a wooden structure and hang around a lot. They can do mild damage to your structure in a season, and moderate damage over time. Their patrol does not indicate an active nest, only that they are looking to mate.

They are not especially great pollinators though they may be native to your area. Male carpenter bees cannot sting, they are all buzz and no real threat.

If you don’t like them and don’t want to kill them: Swat at them with your hands and generally be an annoying and aggressive neighbor and they will likely move on. You can also use a water gun or throw things at them. It may be attracted to the glint on the lens but I don’t think you can change that, so you may have to accept their presence or kill them.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:22 PM on May 13, 2020

Set up a fan that blows them away from the camera until they learn to avoid that spot?
posted by Jacqueline at 11:31 AM on May 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

At my previous house we had a carpenter bee guard our back door every spring. He was only there a few weeks, so if you can wait, I'd expect he'll just go away.
posted by disaster77 at 11:40 AM on May 14, 2020 [1 favorite]