Newbie Mistake

[Noslo65]

We had a new stove put in a month or so ago. Had a couple of small breakin fires since. Well I left some small pieces of ash next to the stove and noticed the other day small piles of dust next to the wood. Exit holes from beetles. Do not know what kind of beetles. The wood was cut down by the power company on our property. So I guess I will have the local pest control company treat my house and I will buy some chemical from them for my wood pile. EAB is not in the local area yet. But should I worry about my house? Can I still burn the other wood this winter? Thank you for any help.

 

[Billy_Bob]

I put my wood into plastic trash cans and put the lid on. These have wheels, so I can take them outside, fill them up with wood, then wheel them back inside. This keeps the bugs in the can.

I have two of these for firewood and another for small pieces and kindling. Here is what they look like...
http://www.cansporter.com/uploads/CartPlasticBar.jpg

 

[iowawoodcutter]

Have the same problem with carpenter ants. I usually spray my whole stash in the summer a few times, but it never gets all of them. I bring in enough wood for two to three days burning and sometimes by the third day the ants will have warmed up enough to come out of hibernation. Then I burn them alive!!

 

[mga]

i use one of those rubber maid 18 gallon storage containers to keep the wood in for the fire.

any bugs have a hard time, if any, climbing the slick side of the plastic and usually end up either in the bottom or in the fire.

plus it makes it easier to carry.

 

[boostnut]

Hey noslo, did you hear that the ash borer was found in McClean county (bloomington/normal) earlier this month? It won't be long, get your ash trees treated if you want to keep em'. Here is a good link for us illinois residents

http://www.agr.state.il.us/eab/data/200808211947.pdf

 

[stihl sawing]

I usually have oak beetles or some kind of bug in my woodpile all the time. When it gets cold they will be dormant. The wood is safe to burn. Just burn the bugs with the wood. If you have a lot of them i would not store it inside the house.