I just noticed this, and don't see any sign of the culprit! Whatever it is hasn't bothered any of the oak, ash, walnut, or locust. It's relatively widespread throughout all of the mulberry though. Spots like these every 18" or so. Whatcha think?
Powderpost beetles or a similar varmint.Sapwood of Mulberry,Honey Locust,White/Green Ash,Shagbark Hickory,Eastern Red Cedar/Juniper & several Red/White Oaks are like filet mignon to them..... Commonly found underneath the bark when wood is green/freshly cut,they leave their evidence as the wood starts drying out.
I agree with thistle. What to do about them? Nothing. When it comes time to burn, just knock the dust off the logs and take indoors. The beettles will be gone then.
Now that I think of it,I don't recall seeing any of them in all the Silver Maple I've got over the past 2-3 years.But that's probably cause it was all received in December through early March instead of during the growing season.
Thanks for the help! I guess I'll have plenty more of the freeloaders left behinds soon! I just started noodling and splitting a bunch of honey locust that I got green. True! They don't eat much! I'm glad it isn't some crazy type of hornet or wasp! Backwoods Savage, I love being able to do nothing about them!! I promise to overachieve doing it too!!
You betcha! It's only just over 1/2 acre. The heads are really small this year. Too much rain. The bees are in 'em thick! Not the best pic, hope it's ok.
It's like the woodhoarder's version of Field of Dreams. Instead of a baseball field in the middle of corn, it's a field full of wood in the middle of sunflowers. Looks like something out of a movie.
Looks like some red oak too? Wood hoarders field of dreams indeed! Most bugs will move on when it starts to dry out. Looks like some lichens growing on it too maybe? I'd want to double check that its not staying wet for some reason. If it is plenty dry, then wood bees might go after it. Check for holes in the end of the splits. Great pics!
Frank and Beans, I wish it was as magical as that! Glad you enjoy the "backdrop" LOL! We are lucky enough to have a few acres away from the masses, glad you're enjoying it! We do too!
Shawn, it gets a good breeze from the west right now. It'll get more from the south when I mow the sunflowers. Sorry, but I still get nervous with the bugs. The wood is 50 yardsish from the house. Don't want any uninvited guests!!
We get that sawdust & frass too, mostly in mullberry. If the wood is put up for winter before a freeze, we can hear faint clicking / ticking noises (chomping) in the wood 'til it freezes again. Just hungry beetles eating wood.
WOW THOSE BUGS ARE GOING AT IT! At least there splitting your big pieces in half for you, that's gotta save a lot of work with the saws and splitter!
I never looked at them as "helpful" Thanks for pointing that out. LOL With the proper advertising, there's a market for the little devils!
