So, how do you ensure that your fireplace warms up your home just for you and not unwanted firewood pests too? Read on to find out all you need to know.
Meet the Intruders
There are a number of pests that are likely to enter your home as you bring in your firewood. So here’s who you need to keep a lookout for:
- Beetles: Giant click beetles, like many other pests, are drawn to moist firewood and are known to lay eggs in them. These eggs can take up to two years to hatch! Fresh wood also attracts beetles - Ambrosia and bark ones that can stay for a very long time.
- Termites: You probably already guessed this one for their love for timber. These pesky creatures have direct access to the underground world and so they are easily able to infect timber that is touching the ground and moist.
- Carpenter Ants: Don’t be surprised if one of the insects using your timber as a bunking space are ants.
- Bees and Wasps: These pests are easily drawn to even dry wood as it offers them a pleasant home, to lay eggs in, for the winter
Look out for These Signs!
Now that you know who to look out for, here’s what to look out for when you inspect timber before bringing it into your property.
Check your timber for any kind of holes on the outside. If you see tunnels that seem like they are made of sawdust, you can expect the timber to be home to timber boring beetles. If you see mud-like trails instead, you may have picked up a log that is infested with termites instead.
You can also tap the timber to check for hollow sounds - that means termites have gotten a hold of it. You can also keep an eye out for stripes or spots that may look odd or listen carefully to hear any clicking or living sounds from inside.
In case you notice any of the above, it would be best to avoid bringing in such timber and its pesky residents into your home and dispose of it instead.
Store Your Firewood Right
To make sure your timber isn’t becoming a residence for uninvited intruders- take a few preventive measures.
- Make sure it is dry before you bring it into your home, whether you are cutting the wood yourself or buying it.
- Store your timber off the ground by using bricks, concrete blocks, plastic pallets or other supporting pieces that are not made of timber.
- Store it at least 3 feet away from the walls of your home to ensure any bugs or insects do not bore into your walls.
- Ensure that your wood stored outside isn't stacked against trees that could get infected and permanently damaged by any transfer of pests.
- Avoid stacking your wood inside your home and bring wood into your home only when you’re about to burn it
- Inspect the timber before bringing into your home and wipe off any dirt or insects you see on it
- Check stored wood regularly even if it is dry as some pests are attracted to dry wood too.
What to Do and What Not to Do?
Here are some tips to help you avoid a firewood infestation problem:
- Store firewood at least twenty feet away from your house to avoid it getting infested by insects, ants, and mice
- Ensure decent airflow beneath the pile of wood to avoid built up; moisture
- Use the oldest wood first to ensure infestations are not building up
- To inspect logs, shake them, tap them together and take a good look at their exteriors
- Restack and arrange your pile regularly if it has been around for a while
Apart from This, Here’s What Not to Do:
- Don’t treat your firewood by spraying some pesticide on it as it will not kill the pests and will spread harmful toxins inside your property when you use your firewood
- Don’t buy your wood from non-local places as it can introduce new species into your property which is a new area
- Don’t store your wood inside your home as it can become a nest for rodents or a residence to a number of insects and pests
Use the tips above to keep your property safe from firewood pests. However, in case you are still faced with an infestation issue, call in the professionals immediately. Remember the sooner you do so, the better they will be able to help you control the infestation.
About the Author:
Muzi Tsolakis owns a pest control company, Protech Pest Control in Australia that specialises in all types of insect control and removal, especially bee control and termite control.
