Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) Home Inspection Practice Exam

Carpenter bees do not consume wood in the way that some other wood-destroying organisms, like termites, do. Instead, carpenter bees create tunnels by boring into wood and hollowing it out, primarily to create nesting sites. While they may not feed on the wood itself, their behavior leads to significant structural damage over time due to the proliferation of these tunnels. In contrast to consuming wood, their method of boring out passages can weaken the structural integrity of wooden components in buildings, making it crucial to address any evidence of carpenter bee activity during inspections. Understanding that carpenter bees do not consume wood but rather hollow it out for nesting can help differentiate their impact on structures compared to other wood-destroying organisms.