Dealing with pests in firewood can be frustrating, but there are ways to prevent infestations and protect your wood supply. Follow these top 10 tips for effective control of common firewood pests:
1. Buy Local Firewood
Imported or non-local firewood often contains pests like emerald ash borers or Asian longhorned beetles. These invasive bugs can spread to your region’s trees. Whenever possible, source firewood cut from trees within 50 miles to avoid introducing new pests.
2. Store Wood Properly
Keep firewood up off the ground on a pallet or stack. Allow for airflow around the logs to prevent damp, humid conditions that attract pests. Cover the top of the stack with a tarp to keep rain and snow off. Store wood in the sun if possible, as the heat helps kill bugs.
3. Treat New Logs
Inspect all new firewood and treat it as a preventative measure. Spray logs with pesticides containing permethrin or bifenthrin. Treatment kills larvae and eggs under the bark before they can spread. Make sure to follow all safety precautions when applying pesticides.
4. Dispose of Infested Wood
Check your firewood stack regularly for signs of infestation like holes, frass, or bugs on the bark. Remove and burn any infested logs right away to prevent spread. Cutting open logs can reveal tunnels from active pests.
5. Use a Kiln or Solar Treatment
A wood drying kiln exposes logs to high enough temperatures to kill all stages of pests. Solar treatment involves stacking wood with a clear plastic cover to create a “solar oven” effect. Both kiln drying and solarization make wood pest free.
6. Debark Firewood
Removing bark eliminates hiding places for larvae and eggs. It’s labor intensive but 100% effective. Use an ax, drawknife, or power washer to strip bark after logs are split and exposed. Avoid gouging into the wood itself.
7. Try Cold Treatment
Storing logs for 3-4 weeks below 10°F kills some pests. For complete control, maintain the cold temperatures for 6 weeks. This method works best on split, loosely stacked logs for maximum cold exposure.
8. Heat-Treat the Wood
Heating firewood to 160°F for 1 hour will kill all insects and larvae. Use a portable kiln or oven, or submerge logs in hot water for the required duration. Allow firewood to fully dry after heat treatment before burning.
9. Use Pest-Resistant Wood
Some tree species have natural resistance to wood pests.Good options include osage orange, honey locust, catalpa, mulberry, and Pacific yew. Use these when available to prevent infestations.
10. Support Beneficial Insects
Encourage natural predators like woodpeckers, beetles, and parasitic wasps that feed on firewood pests. Put up bird or bat boxes to attract these helpful, organic forms of control.
Following proper storage, inspection, and preventative treatment guidelines reduces the likelihood of firewood pests. But if an infestation does occur, take immediate steps like disposal, debarking, or heat treatment. With vigilance and the right control methods, you can enjoy pest-free firewood.
Frequently Asked Questions About Firewood Pest Control
What are some common firewood pests?
Some of the most common pests found in firewood include powderpost beetles, old house borers, bark beetles, carpenter ants, termites, and wood roaches. Invasive species like emerald ash borers are also spread through movement of infested firewood.
How do I identify if my firewood has pests?
Signs of pests include small holes in logs, powdery frass near holes, crawling insects on the bark, hollowed out galleries under the bark, and sections of bark peeling off. Tunnels and worms may be visible if you crack open split logs.
Should I treat all new firewood?
Treating new, unseasoned firewood is a smart preventative measure, even if no pests are visible. Pesticides will kill any larvae and eggs hidden under the bark before they can multiply. It’s much easier to treat wood before it’s infested.
Can pests spread from firewood to my home?
Yes, some pests like termites, carpenter ants, and wood roaches can spread from firewood into your home. They can ride on the wood you bring indoors and then emerge inside. Preventing infestations in firewood cuts off this route into your house.
What temperature kills firewood pests?
Most firewood pests are killed at temperatures above 140°F sustained for an hour or longer. Wood drying kilns and heat treating methods use temperatures above 160°F to ensure lethal conditions for all insects and larvae.
How long does cold treatment take?
For partial control, maintain temperatures below 10°F for 3-4 weeks. For complete eradication, sustain the cold temperatures consistently for 6 weeks or longer. Split logs stacked in open air have the best cold exposure.
Can debarking firewood attract pests?
Freshly debarked wood gives off odors that can attract some beetles. Allow the wood to dry for 2-3 weeks before debarking. Debarked firewood should also be stored properly off the ground and covered to avoid reinfestation.
Are pest-resistant wood species 100% effective?
While trees like osage orange are highly resistant, they are not immune to wood pests. Preventative treatment and proper storage are still recommended when using these species for firewood. Monitor for any signs of infestation.
How far should firewood be sourced locally?
Firewood should come from within 50 miles of where it will be burned to prevent spread of invasive species. Some states also have total bans on uncertified or out-of-state firewood. When in doubt, source wood as locally as possible.
Conclusion
Preventing and managing firewood pests comes down to vigilance with inspection, treatment, storage, and prompt action when infestations are found. Following these practical tips will help protect your wood supply from destructive pest damage. Be sure to use multiple methods for the best control and eradication of firewood pests.