Firewood can provide shelter for more than you might expect. Beetles, spiders, ants and other insects can hide beneath bark, inside cracks or between logs, especially when wood has been stacked outside throughout the summer.
For Edmonton homeowners getting ready for fireplace season, this doesn’t mean you should be worried about using firewood. Most insects found in firewood are simply living outdoors where they belong. A few good storage habits can help keep them from coming inside with the logs.
What Pests Can Hide in Firewood?
Firewood creates plenty of protected spaces for insects and spiders. Exactly what you find can depend on the type and condition of the wood, where it’s stored and how long it has been sitting.
Beetles
Beetles are one of the insects you may encounter around firewood. Some species live beneath bark or develop inside dead and dying wood.
You might notice adult beetles, larvae, small holes in the wood or loose material around the bark.
Finding a wood-inhabiting beetle in your firewood doesn’t automatically mean it’s attacking your house. Many species are associated specifically with dead or damaged trees and may simply emerge after the firewood is brought somewhere warm.
Identification is important before deciding whether there’s actually a problem.
Spiders
A firewood pile is practically custom-built for spiders: dark spaces, protection from the weather and plenty of other small insects nearby.
Spiders may build webs between logs or shelter underneath loose bark. They’re beneficial outdoors because they feed on insects, so finding one in your woodpile isn’t necessarily a concern.
Give individual logs a quick inspection before carrying them inside to reduce the chances of bringing a spider along for the ride.
Ants
Ants can sometimes be found in old, damp or decaying wood. Carpenter ants are particularly associated with moisture-damaged wood.
An important distinction is that carpenter ants don’t eat wood. They excavate galleries in damaged or softened wood to create nesting areas.
Finding ants in a piece of firewood doesn’t necessarily mean they’re nesting in your home. However, regularly seeing carpenter ants indoors or finding activity on damp structural wood warrants a closer look.
Other Insects
Firewood can also shelter various flies, wasps and other insects depending on where and how it has been stored.
Some may become noticeable shortly after wood is brought indoors because the warmer temperature makes them active.
Again, this doesn’t automatically indicate an indoor infestation. You may simply have woken up an insect that thought it had found a perfectly good place to spend the winter.
Can Firewood Bring Pests Into Your House?
Yes, insects and spiders can accidentally be carried indoors with firewood, but there is an important difference between bringing a pest inside and having an infestation.
If a beetle emerges from a log beside your fireplace, for example, it may have spent much of its lifecycle inside that particular piece of wood. That doesn’t necessarily mean it can infest the dry, finished lumber used in your home.
The same applies to many other insects sheltering in firewood.
Instead of assuming the worst, identify what you’ve found first. That gives you a much better idea of whether you need pest control or simply need to put the visitor back outside.
Where Should You Store Firewood?
Good firewood storage helps keep the wood dry while making the pile less inviting to pests.
Keep firewood outside until you need it rather than storing large quantities in your basement, garage or another heated area.
Choose a dry location and keep the wood raised off the ground when possible. Avoid creating a permanently damp pile surrounded by vegetation and debris.
It’s also a good idea not to stack firewood directly against your house. Leaving some separation makes it easier to inspect the area and reduces sheltered pathways between the woodpile and the building.
Rotating your supply helps, too. Use older wood first, rather than continually adding new logs on top of a pile that’s been sitting undisturbed for years.
Should You Spray Firewood for Bugs?
Generally, firewood shouldn’t be routinely sprayed with insecticides just because you find insects around it.
Firewood will eventually be burned, and applying unnecessary products to it isn’t a good preventive strategy.
At Birch Fumigators, we focus on identification and prevention first, followed by targeted, environmentally friendly insect treatment methods when appropriate.
For homeowners, simple steps such as properly storing wood, keeping it dry, and inspecting logs before bringing them inside can go a long way.
How Do You Keep Bugs From Coming Inside With Firewood?
Before carrying firewood into your home, give each piece a quick visual inspection.
Shake or knock off any loose debris outdoors, and check beneath loose bark if something looks suspicious. Only bring in the amount of firewood you’re likely to use rather than keeping a large indoor pile for weeks at a time.
If an insect does emerge indoors, don’t immediately assume your home is infested.
First, figure out what it is.
Found Something in Your Firewood? Send Us a Photo
Beetles and other insects aren’t always easy to identify, especially when you’re trying to compare what you’ve found with pictures online.
Birch Fumigators offers free pest identification. Take a clear photo of the insect and send it to us through our contact form. Our team can help you understand what you’re dealing with and whether any action is necessary.
Sometimes you’ve found a pest that needs attention. Other times, you’ve simply discovered one of the many insects that call Alberta home.
Knowing the difference can save you a lot of unnecessary worry.
Enjoy Your Fireplace Without the Extra Guests
Firewood and insects naturally cross paths, particularly when wood is stored outdoors. Proper storage, a quick inspection and bringing in only what you need can greatly reduce the chances of carrying pests inside.
If you’re seeing ongoing pest activity in or around your home, Birch Fumigators is a locally owned Canadian pest control company serving Edmonton and surrounding communities. Contact our team for free pest identification, prevention advice or professional pest control when you need it.