The fat bees are back, as are the tiny holes they love to drill in decks and porches. Carpenter bees (not to be confused with bumblebees or honeybees) are large bees with shiny, black tail sections.

Carpenter bees are starting to show up in all areas of Rowan County. The initial activity is often by males buzzing about looking for the queen bee of their dreams. The males are often territorial and ...