I answered a craigslist ad today for maple rounds that have been down for a year. It was Norway maple although a good amount of the wood looked ok on first look, when split, it was about 30-40 percent cruddy (termites and some general rot.) I took about 3 wheelbarrels worth and told the homeowner that that was all I’d take. They were very nice and all was well. I don’t get much wood that has evidence of termites. I’m figuring that, like carpenter ants, they vacate once wood dries out a bit. What do you all think?
I'd mist it with Home Defense Max...I've had ants that didn't leave after the wood dried, so as soon as I see them I train them to roll over and play dead...permanently...
Generally, whatever critter has invaded the rounds will depart after the rounds have been split, stacked and begin to dry.
i had seen termites maybe twice prior to this Spring when i ran into them twice in a month. Wood was pretty solid too. See my threads Termite be insects in this dead ash...yup i was right! The TERMITEinator! I torched them both times
I ask because I stacked some of this stuff in same stack as some good oak. I try as much as possible to stay away from the chemicals. If anything, I may just restack. I didn’t see any termites present in the wood but saw those “tunnels” you see that shows they were there at least at some point. Hmm, what to do what to do.
i dont use chemicals unless i dont have my little instant light torch in the PU and use it often for ants, bugs etc. Works great. Been doing it for years. I usually have a can of bee spray in the PU and it works on ants too. Do you "knock" splits when ants are encountered to get them all out? Smack it hard against a round/ rock/splitter etc.
I’ve had ants and termites in my wood, I get a cheap Home Depot pump sprayer and mist my seasoning wood with diesel and it keeps all critters out, the smell dissipates quickly and doesn’t seem to affect burn quality or smell
Not much experience with termites. With the carpenter ants, they get outta dodge so quick once wood is split that I never worry about them staying for long.
The next day i found the termites in the ash tree i split the logs and only a few were in one round. I torched them right away and put those splits on the side just in case. In this case, i would split all the wood inspect it well and set in a sunny area for a while away from your other wood. I think termites, like ants prefer damp wood.
I've had termites get into split and stacked red maple on saplings that was not top covered and was surprised at how far up into the stack they got. Once I moved the top two thirds of the stack into a top covered place they left/died/disappeared. The bottom third I donated to the forest.
If you’re moving termite wood to a stack that will be dry off the ground they have a hard time of recolonization. Only if there are fliers/ winged individuals would I worry about treating. All those little white guys are workers.
Last week or so I’ve been splitting up a maple scrounge. Ok I’m slow. First time I ever saw termites. Thousands of little ones under the bark. Eggs too,,,,,or way to young to move? I’ve seen plenty of ants in my days. First time for these little maggots. Makes me think twice about scrounging maple. Don’t like the idea of bringing home a new pest.
I would leave it. They are pretty much unheard of out here but we now have them near the lake I live by. I'd like to blame the abandoned houses under water here. Not sure if they were from all the log hauling on the highway near because of beetle kill, or a camper brought in termite infested wood, who knows. What I do know is there are no termites in our firewood and unnerving knowing they are are under our house and actually made it up through my bedroom floor (shudders).
Once the wood is "off" the ground, the termites will die. They need to make tubes with their saliva to exist. Their tubes consist of a mud like substance that they travel in. Left on the ground, the wood is doomed for destruction! I've had the bottoms of pallets completely ate off in a two year span and even had pallets fall through because of termites. I was fortunate enough to find a place where I acquired plastic pallets for my wood.
X2. I see them occasionally. I usually throw it to the side split for a day or two and then stack. Sometimes spray with prytherin spray
I only saw "dust" from powder post beetles. And, we get those B@$tards also... But I've never ssen them in the fire wood, Only kiln dried stuff.
Maybe you have the wrong kind of wood Dave? Here we find them a lot in soft maple and elm especially. Never in oak though.
