firewood pests
As winter approaches and cool weather sets in, there’s no better way to keep your home warm and comfortable than by lighting up your fireplace. Wood fires bring an old-fashioned charm that modern heating can’t match, not to mention a pleasant, smoky smell that fills the house. But they also require bringing wood into your house. Depending on where you got it, firewood can harbor some unpleasant and unsanitary bugs. By taking it inside, you risk carrying these firewood pests into your home. Thus the next time you’re gathering wood, watch out for:
Powderpost Beetles
The most common type of insect to appear in firewood. Powederpost beetles lay eggs in the wood; the larvae then hatch and tunnel their way out, leaving small holes and a cover of dust. Powderpost beetles tend not to be a threat to wood floors and walls, provided that you varnish and sand those surfaces regularly. But they can infest your furniture, so avoid storing firewood anywhere near furnishings that contain significant amounts of wood.
Wood Cockroaches
This is a dark brown cockroach that is common along much of the East Coast. These insects take shelter in wood and will spread through your home if you bring that wood inside. Luckily, they are relatively easy to deal with. Simply keep an eye on the wood and swat any that emerge before they have a chance to get into your things. Even if you miss a few, they won’t be able to last long indoors. So there’s little risk of them multiplying and infesting your home for the long haul.
Carpenter Ants
Among the most serious firewood pests you can bring into your home, carpenter ants burrow into wood to make their nests. Once inside, they can easily spread from firewood into wooden walls and floors, tunneling into it and causing serious structural damage. They can only survive in wood that has significant amounts of moisture in it. So you can minimize the risk of an infestation by only bringing wood inside if it is completely dry. You should also keep standing water and moist objects away from the wood once it is indoors.
Termites
Like carpenter ants, termites tunnel into the wood in your home, creating structural issues. And as with the ants, you can keep the risk to a minimum by only bringing dry wood inside and keeping it separate from moisture sources. Termite control also requires being careful about how you store wood outside. Avoid stacking firewood against the side of your house, as this will attract termites.
For more information on insect control for firewood and all other activities, contact Clark Pest Control today.
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