Are you having problems with wood-boring insects? These pests are common in log homes and cabins.
We have been getting lots of calls from people who are concerned about the tiny holes they see in their logs. It’s that time of year when bugs can become a major concern for a log home owner.
Boring insects are a common problem in log homes and cabins. The boring insects we have in the Midwest are commonly carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and powderpost beetles. These insects bore into your home, leaving small holes in the logs and a bit of dust in their wake. They feed on deteriorating wood. If you see wood-boring insects, it’s typically a sign of a deeper problem, such as rot developing in the logs.
The most common insect in log homes is the carpenter ant. The carpenter ant infests rotting wood, although it does not cause the rot. The holes these carpenter ants bore are about ¼” in diameter or the size of a pencil.
Powderpost beetles are also common in log homes but they don’t generally do structural damage and are most times not the best indicator of rotting wood. Their holes are the size of a pencil lead.
Neither the carpenter ant nor the powderposst beetle does structural damage to the logs themselves, but carpenter ants may be a warning sign to you that your logs are getting wet or have some rot in them.
There are two aspects you want to consider when dealing with these types of insects. One thing you want to do is protect the wood itself from rotting and, in turn, remove the food source for the bugs. The second thing is to reduce the insect population. In short, stop the rot and exterminate the bugs.
Regarding protecting the wood, part of the defense involves boron compounds. Borates raise the pH of the wood to a level where the rot organism is impeded, and subsequently, the bugs are less able to attack it. Bottom line, most times boring insects indicate a larger problem with rot. (See “Why Do Logs Rot“)
By getting rid of the rot and moisture, the bugs will have no food source and will leave or die back. Sometimes it is necessary to have a professional exterminator come and kill the pests so you can control the damage they cause as they bore into the wood in search of their food source – rot.
In the Northern Midwest, we do not (as of yet) have termites. If you live in an area that does have them, pay close attention to the signs of these insects. Termites can do extensive damage to wood that is not rotting. If you suspect you have termites, contact a local professional exterminator to assess the problem and develop a plan to eliminate them.
