Final answer:
Carpenter bees typically avoid painted wood as it does not provide the soft, easy-to-burrow texture they seek for nesting. Painted surfaces are less attractive to these bees, making painted wood less likely to be attacked, though not completely immune if the paint is compromised.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true: Painted wood is rarely attacked by carpenter bees. Carpenter bees prefer to excavate their nests in soft, unpainted, or weathered wood. This behavior is due to the bees' natural tendency to avoid areas that don't resemble their preferred nesting sites found in nature, such as dead trees or fallen timber. Carpenter bees are less attracted to painted wood since it doesn't have the soft, easy-to-burrow texture they seek for nesting.
However, it's important to note that while painted wood is less susceptible to carpenter bee damage, it is not completely immune. If the paint is old, cracked, or peeling, carpenter bees may still attempt to establish nests in such wood.