I have recently found an alarming number of carpenter bees in my front yard. Under further investigation I have found many holes and believe they are nesting in a large apple tree. I am not even able to pick up the fallen apples because of the sheer number of bees. I need to know how I can get rid of these pests without cutting the apple tree down.

Visit this website, susan, the information is too numerous to mention here and it does have pics that you can identify:

Carpenter Bees - ENT/rsc-4

It is unlikely you have carpenter bees in the apple tree. C-bees resemble bumble bees but are generally darker (more black). They are also rather non-aggressive and would be unlike ly to bother you while you were gathering apples. It's mire like ly they are yellow jackets - blk & yellow striped, similar in body design to honeybee but with longer abdomen. They can always be found around fruit trees, and occasionally in your can of soda - they're after the sugars. They also are not overly aggressive unless you are near their nest.

Other than finding the nest, there's not much you can do but set up traps (basically a btl of sugar water with baffles). These are probably avail at home & garden store. If you know where the nest is, repost here and I'll offer tips on treating it.