Bugs in the Firewood
Last winter I got a dump truck load of firewood delivered. This is hickory.
As it has sat in the stack, I notice it is infested with bugs. They make little holes about 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch. I think the holes are just in the bark side they don't go into the bare wood I think, I am on the road right now and can't check.
Anyway, there are piles, and piles of sawdust all over the firewood stack. This is real fine sawdust like powder.
My house is a log cabin. I am afraid to bring this firewood into the house because the damn bugs might infest the house.
When I have had a roaring fire going I have carried one stick into the house and put it straight into the wood stove. I like the thought of roasting those beetles.
What kind of bugs are these and are they a danger to my house?
As it has sat in the stack, I notice it is infested with bugs. They make little holes about 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch. I think the holes are just in the bark side they don't go into the bare wood I think, I am on the road right now and can't check.
Anyway, there are piles, and piles of sawdust all over the firewood stack. This is real fine sawdust like powder.
My house is a log cabin. I am afraid to bring this firewood into the house because the damn bugs might infest the house.
When I have had a roaring fire going I have carried one stick into the house and put it straight into the wood stove. I like the thought of roasting those beetles.
What kind of bugs are these and are they a danger to my house?
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Put a tarp over the wood pile and set off a couple of bug bombs under it. Even if they're outside the little buggers can still attack your log house. 0 -
Here in MT we get bark beetles that are damaging the forests. From what I hear, it's their larvae that cause a bacteria under the bark that kills the tree.
I see the same thing- bore holes and sawdust in my woodpile, but haven't ever seen anything that has harmed the house. I burn about 5-6 cords a year, but I wont spray any insecticide on the wood that I'm burning.0 -
Most all hickory I've ever burned had the same issue. Unless they're termites, I wouldn't worry.
Is your home treated for termites?
I have split a lot of Locust and oak that had termites inside. You'd think the sub freezing temps would kill them.0 -
sounds like a country song: "There's bugs in the firewood where your head used to lay". 0 -
quote:Originally posted by varian
sounds like a country song: "There's bugs in the firewood where your head used to lay".
OH NO, I had totally forgotten about that album country porn [:0]0 -
They are Hickory Borers and will bore the crap out of your wood. Ive had them come out of the wood after it warms up and fly around the room. I dont believe they will attack your home. When you split Hickory they are often exposed, you can see their passages. The worm looks like a BallPark Frank and it gets longer as it eats then pulls the tail up leaving poop or sawdust. It expands again, contracts, etc. I split a large pile and the sparrows were all over it grabbing the white worms I had exposed. 0 -
I call these screw worms.
They are little and white and look like screws.
Mostly found between the bark and wood.
I knock them off outside and don't like bringing them inside either.0 -
quote:Originally posted by NeoBlackdog
Put a tarp over the wood pile and set off a couple of bug bombs under it. Even if they're outside the little buggers can still attack your log house.
Yep. Possibly too late already.0 -
Sorry, I just have to say this 
"Burn it"0 -
PA has an infestation of Emerald Ash Borers'. I've seen similar bug tracks under pine bark so I can't tell what you may have. 0 -
PA has an infestation of Emerald Ash Borers'. I've seen similar bug tracks under pine bark so I can't tell what you may have. 0 -
All hickory gets those wood borers if left over the summer. Carry it in as you burn it but don't leave it where it's warm. 0 -
Can't help as to the actual critter. But ink ow I've seen tracks and sawdust under the bark of all the firewood I've ever seen split (well over 200 cord I would think.)
Seems I've almost always seen them between the bark and the wood. Not In the wood. So as long as the logs in your cabin don't have any bark I'd think your fine0 -
Hickory borers is correct, and there are borers that specialize in tree familys. Oak borers can feed on most if not all oaks, Hickory borers can feed on several species of hickory and may also feed on other walnut family members.
There are actually several kinds of borers in different beetle families. The painted hickory borer is probably the most common, but the screw worm mentioned a few post above this is another alos common beetle.
There is no treatment for live trees, and the best course is to move the wood straight to the stove and do not store it inside.0 -
Also might try Diatomaceous Earth
I've found it other places for something like $20 for a 50# sack.
It is powdered coral. Calcium something or another. Comes in food grade and non. Chances are if you've ever eaten dried food you've probably eaten it.
On soft tissue like we are made of it's harmless. On insects that have a hard waxy exoskeleton it acts like little razor blades and scraps the waxy coating off. Causing the bugs to eventually dry out and die.
I've riged up a little air Cannon and bombed my basement to kill the spiders and in the yard to kill ants and ticks. I've never kept bugs in a container to verify how long it takes them to die. But I know I saw much fewer to no spiders in the basement. And the dog stopped getting ticks.0 -
quote:Originally posted by joshmb1982
Also might try Diatomaceous Earth
I've found it other places for something like $20 for a 50# sack.
It is powdered coral. Calcium something or another. Comes in food grade and non. Chances are if you've ever eaten dried food you've probably eaten it.
On soft tissue like we are made of it's harmless. On insects that have a hard waxy exoskeleton it acts like little razor blades and scraps the waxy coating off. Causing the bugs to eventually dry out and die.
I've riged up a little air Cannon and bombed my basement to kill the spiders and in the yard to kill ants and ticks. I've never kept bugs in a container to verify how long it takes them to die. But I know I saw much fewer to no spiders in the basement. And the dog stopped getting ticks.
I bought a bag of that stuff at the feed store. Works pretty good for ants and other yard bugs. The lizards and other critters are not affected by it. (little skinnier from less food)
I think it works in a couple days as I watched the ant activity diminish.
For the larvae, may not help, unless it has an exoskeleton.
I wonder if salt water would kill them, how would the wood burn?0 -
quote:Originally posted by mag00
quote:Originally posted by joshmb1982
Also might try Diatomaceous Earth
I've found it other places for something like $20 for a 50# sack.
It is powdered coral. Calcium something or another. Comes in food grade and non. Chances are if you've ever eaten dried food you've probably eaten it.
On soft tissue like we are made of it's harmless. On insects that have a hard waxy exoskeleton it acts like little razor blades and scraps the waxy coating off. Causing the bugs to eventually dry out and die.
I've riged up a little air Cannon and bombed my basement to kill the spiders and in the yard to kill ants and ticks. I've never kept bugs in a container to verify how long it takes them to die. But I know I saw much fewer to no spiders in the basement. And the dog stopped getting ticks.
I bought a bag of that stuff at the feed store. Works pretty good for ants and other yard bugs. The lizards and other critters are not affected by it. (little skinnier from less food)
I think it works in a couple days as I watched the ant activity diminish.
For the larvae, may not help, unless it has an exoskeleton.
I wonder if salt water would kill them, how would the wood burn?
The flames would be more colorful I'm sure0 -
Gas is the answer...[:D] 0 -
If you here a crunching sound under the tarp covered wood, and you see a lot of sawdust under the bark chances are sawyer bugs are the culprit. Had never seen them before I had a load of firewood delivered, and last winter before I brought the wood into the house I knocked of the bark and got the sawdust off put in firewood box but the bugs were in the house.
Most of the house is either nice finish Oak or Pine walls inside, same outside. After I found a couple, the wood went back outside and burned the whole 2 cords by bringing inside as needed.
This spring and over the summer they killed my 40 year old white pine by the wood shed. I cut it down and had a huge fire a couple weeks ago. Hope I got them all but I doubt it. I hope that they did not get rooted into the woods. Pain in the ass not having the wood box full but until I know they are gone that will be the program. Just having them by the house on warm days bothers me even though wood is in wheelbarrow. Even though the cedar siding is weather treated I would hate to find the critters in the wood.0
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