What Insects Are Lurking in Your Firewood?

As the months get colder most people will be stocking up on firewood. And with nights getting longer, there is nothing better than lighting the fire in the evenings to keep warm. However, have you considered what insects you might be bringing in to your home with your firewood?

Firewood

Firewood can harbour spiders, carpenter ants, beetles and other creepy crawlies. Most of these insects hibernate in the winter, but when they are brought indoors, the dryness and warmth of our homes can deceive them into thinking spring has arrived. As a result, these insects become active and can be a nuisance.

Firewood that has been acquired from dead trees are likely to be home to an array of wood-boring beetles or woodworm. Once in your home, the warmer temperatures can activate the larvae and cause an infestation of beetles. Left to their own devices they will happily move into hardwood floors, furniture, windowsills and other household structures and furnishings, causing significant damage.

Here’s PESTUK’s top tips for storing firewood during these cold months:

Split and stack the wood in neat piles that are well covered and kept at least 8 inches off the ground and in piles no more than six feet tall. The drier the wood, the less hospitable is it to pests.
Store logs in a way that makes it easy to rotate so the oldest, driest logs gets used first.
When storing firewood indoors, bring in just enough firewood for a day or so, and leave the rest stored safely outdoors.
Shake logs or knock them together outside to dislodge insects before bringing the firewood inside. Always inspect firewood before bringing it into your home.
Know where your logs originated from – avoid purchasing firewood that may be from dead trees.