OT::: Firewood problem

[Cienna]

I usually split and store firewood two years before it is used. By that time some of the firewood is riddled with holes created by some insect---holes about 1/16th" in size. And it's mostly in wood that has bark on it. So the result is that the firewood is full of sawdust/feces---hardly fit to have in the house without knocking it off. Question---What's going on?, and how do I remedy it??
 

[Zachary Hoyt]

Sounds like you my have powderpost beetles in the wood, or something like them. I do not think it is necessary to dry firewood for two years, we always cut ours 6-9 months ahead of when it is burned and stack it under a roof and it seems to be pretty good and dry by the time we burn it.
Zach
 

[Richard G.]

Spray the pile well a couple of times with a good insecticide or use boric acid as a spray a couple of times.
Or put a large tarp over it and use some of the better bug bombs.
Richard
 

[uncle henry]

i agree with Zach we also use a green one or two depending on size for over night when we go to bed
 

[teddy52food]

I hope you clean your chimney often.
 

[uncle henry]

every year
 

[WAYNE-N-TX]

The instruction for my insert says to let it dry for at least a year, something about messing up the catalyst. I’ll have admit, burns faster and don’t seem to put out as much heat.
 

[George Marsh]

Zach,
I made an oak china cabnet. Powerpost beatles showed up in the very top of the cabnet. I had one major battle getting rid of them. I turned the top part of the cabnet upside down on plastic and soaked it with Timbor.

If a person were to get powerpost beatles in the walls of their house, I think it may be next to impossible to get rid of them.

George
 

[TomH in PA]

They require a certain % moisture in the wood. Once it's dry they go elsewhere so a house is usually safe unless it's made of heavy timbers.
 

[George Marsh]

The wood I used that had power post beatles was inside for 20+ years and dry. I wouldn't want to find out what it would take if they got in the walls of my house.
 

[randy hall]

my how the times have changed. now we worry about bug poop in firewood. this is hillarious.
 

[bud soda]

I am in the firewood business. Also heat my house with wood, I never season wood over a year. Most I sell at 8-10 months old, split and covered. This is red and white oak.

BS
 

[dave2]

[Brian G. NY]

As someone already said, it's probably powderpost beetle. I get them mostly in red (soft) maple and sometimes in ash. I just knock the sticks together before I bring then into the house which elimates some of the fine sawdust.
A few years ago someone gave my wife a nice homemade white birch Christmas candle holder which she sat on her beautiful pine hutch.
After the holidays, when she picked up the candle holder there were tiny powderpost beetle holes in the pine.
She wasn't happy!!
 

[bud soda]

Bess Beetles are the only one I see in aged wood here in nc. Oh and the fire ants in the summer