Wood-loving pests in firewood
Many in the north Pittsburgh suburbs use wood-burning fireplaces for warmth and ambiance this season. However, with this cozy comfort also comes an unwelcome guest – pests! From rats to termites, these critters can cause much damage inside your home if you don’t take precautions. Knowing what creatures might be drawn to your fireplace logs is critical to keeping them out year-round – so arm yourself against infestations by following some simple tips today that will keep all those unwanted visitors far away from the hearthside.
What wood-loving pests are attracted to wood?
Termites. Termites may be tiny, but their destruction is anything but! Causing an estimated $5 billion in damage to American homes annually, these voracious insects can quickly turn a wooden structure into kindling with the help of their hungry hordes. Even worse – since insurance policies don’t usually cover termite infestations – it’s possible that repair bills could add up to thousands as colonies proliferate if left untreated; some queens have been known to produce 30,000 eggs every day!
Carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are aptly named for their proclivity to create intricate nests by burrowing into wood. Unfortunately, these industrious insects can pose a severe problem as they chew through beams and other structures in our homes – leaving behind costly damages that require repair!
Mice. As the temperatures drop, mice look for a cozy place to call home. Unfortunately, they often choose your house! Once in residence, these troublesome rodents can cause quite a bit of damage — eating food and gnawing holes into walls, leaving smudge marks as they travel, destroying insulation that could lead to electrical fires… not mention an influx of parasites and health risks. Avoid dealing with this by ensuring proper firewood storage during winter months – it’s better to be safe than sorry when you’re talking about pests!
Once inside, they eat your food, gnaw holes in your walls and belongings, create smudge marks where they travel, and leave droppings almost everywhere they go. On top of that, they can carry additional unwanted guests into your home, such as fleas, mites, ticks, lice, and various mouse-borne diseases.
Centipedes. When fall approaches, it’s not just leaves that come creeping into your home – centipedes make their presence known too! Though they generally don’t pose a harm to you or your family, if one gets the wrong idea and decides to bite you, well… trust us when we say it won’t feel good. So take extra caution this season as our many-legged friends seek refuge in firewood piles around your house.
Spiders. Spiders might seem harmless enough but watch out – they may be planning an invasion of your home! While these eight-legged creatures don’t feed on wood, they often lay eggs in it. Typically, those eggs stay dormant until springtime; however, if you bring that wood into a warm environment like your house, then all bets are off; with temperatures to their liking, spiders will emerge from hibernation and take over anything inside in no time flat! And not only is this unsettling sight potentially hazardous for humans (especially young kids or vulnerable adults) since some species can even deliver venomous bites: so the next time you consider bringing any firewood indoors, think twice – it could turn into a big family nightmare overnight.
How do I keep wood-loving pests out of my house?
The best way to treat infestations in your wood is to avoid getting them in the first place. Here are a few things you can do to keep your home and firewood pest-free:
- Eliminate sources of moisture, such as standing water, that pests rely on to stay hydrated.
- Keep plants and tree branches from touching your home, so bugs like carpenter ants can’t use them as a bridge to get onto your house.
- Seal all cracks and openings in your foundation, walls, and screens, as well as around your windows and doors.
- Place stacked firewood and other clutter well away from the walls of your home so pests like mice that take shelter in it don’t spread to your house.
- After bringing firewood inside, burn it right away. Don’t leave it for more than 24 hours to prevent any eggs in it from hatching.
- Store your food in containers with tight-fitting lids, and clean up any spilled food or drink immediately so it won’t attract mice or bugs like human food.
- Hire a professional pest control service.
Do-it-yourself pest control is often costly, time-consuming, and ineffective, and delays in successfully removing a harmful infestation like termites can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs.
By bringing in the experts to eliminate damaging or disease-carrying pests, you can save your bank account, free time, health, and home.
How do I hire Boo’s Bug Stoppers to keep my wood and home pest-free all year?
If you want to learn more about our comprehensive and affordable year-round service, see our client’s testimonials, and get the details on our pricing and policy, click here to learn about our pest control maintenance plans.