Where'd these guys come from?

[Dave Boyt]

I've been salvaging a lot of oak on my Norwood band sawmill. Last week, I visited a friend who is a full-time sawyer, also milling salvaged logs. Most of it is in great shape, but this one really surprised both of us. It was good all the way to the center, which was filled with ants. Wood is good above and below the rotted area, and there are no noticeable wounds in the side of the log. They weren't any happier to see me than we were to see them!

 

[Burlhunter13]

Same thing happened to me with a salvaged box elder log, 2' diameter. Milled for dimensional 1" lumber, rotated the log several times......noticed some ants, but not a lot, boards clean without ant holes. Untill I got to the last few cuts towards the cant. I stopped milling when I got to a 6X6, insane nest, and they were pouring out. That post met a fiery end.

 

[Naked Arborist]

I'm an arborist and for what it's worth...........arboricultural literature teaches that ants do not eat or make their homes in healthly wood. Ants are found only in wood that has already been decayed by fungi.

If you find information that says otherwise please share it. I'd be glad to post it in arboriculture forums for discussion.

I would agree a hundred percent. Never found ants in healthy wood.

 

[Dave Boyt]

Good info. Oak borers must've invaded the tree, opened it up to rot, then the ants moved in for dinner. Always something different. I actually felt sorry for the little critters. Beats sawing into a horseshoe or steel fence post, though.