Bugs that come out of firewood almost never infest your home. Most are beetles, spiders or wasps that were hiding in the wood for the winter. They wake up in the warm house, wander around, and die. University of Kentucky Extension says these bugs can't live long indoors. The real risk is how you store the wood outside.
If bugs keep showing up inside after you stop bringing in wood, the problem may be coming from somewhere else. Our residential pest control service starts with a free inspection to find out where they are getting in.
What bugs come out of firewood?
Most bugs in firewood fall into two groups. Some live inside the wood and eat it. Others just crawled into the woodpile to hide from the cold.
| Bug | Why it is in the wood | Can it hurt your house? |
|---|---|---|
| Wood-boring beetles | They grow up inside the logs | Very low risk. They need wetter wood than the lumber in your home. |
| Carpenter ants | They nest in wet or old, stacked wood | A few brought in on a log will not start a nest |
| Termites | Workers feed in wood that touches the ground | The colony lives in the soil, not the log |
| Wood cockroaches | Hiding for the winter | They can't live long indoors |
| Spiders and spider egg sacs | Hiding for the winter | They can't live long indoors |
| Wasp and hornet queens | Hiding for the winter | They can't live long indoors |
Source: University of Kentucky Extension, Firewood Insects.
Can bugs from firewood infest your house?
Almost never. Wood-boring beetles pick certain trees, like oak or hickory, and need wood that is much wetter than the dry lumber in your walls. Kentucky Extension says their chance to infest the wood in a house is "very low." Carpenter ants carried in on a log won't start a new nest.
The bugs that were just hiding in the pile, like spiders and wood roaches, warm up and start to move. You can sweep them up or swat them. They won't take over your home.
Can termites in firewood get into your house?
Not from the log you carry in. Termites live in the soil and only send workers up into wood that touches the ground. A log by the fireplace has no colony to feed it.
The risk is outside. Wood stacked on the ground or against the house for a long time can bring termites and carpenter ants right up to your walls. If you see mud tubes on the foundation or soft, hollow wood near the woodpile, look into termite control.
How should you store firewood to keep bugs out?
Keep firewood off the ground and away from the house. These steps come from University of Kentucky Extension:
- Stack it off the ground. Use a rack or pallets so the bottom logs stay dry.
- Keep it away from the house. Don't stack wood against your walls for a long time.
- Burn the oldest wood first. Older wood is the most likely to have bugs. Don't stack new wood on top of old.
- Cover the top in summer and fall. This helps keep the wood dry.
- Knock logs together before you bring them in. Brush off webs, egg sacs and cocoons.
- Bring in only what you will burn in a day or so. Wood that sits in a warm house gives bugs time to wake up and crawl out.
Should you spray firewood with bug spray?
No. Kentucky Extension says spraying firewood is not needed and can be harmful. Burning wood that has been sprayed can put fumes into your home. Knocking the logs and bringing in a small amount at a time works better.
Can you bring firewood from somewhere else in Missouri?
Try not to. The Missouri Department of Conservation asks people not to move firewood more than 50 miles from where it was cut. Pests like the emerald ash borer live under the bark and spread to new places this way. The emerald ash borer has been in St. Charles County since 2014, says the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Buy wood close to home. MDC says the only firewood that is safe to move a long way is packaged, heat-treated wood with the USDA shield on the label.
Bugs in firewood FAQ
Why do bugs come out of my firewood days after I bring it in? The bugs were asleep in the cold wood. The warm air in your home wakes them up. That is why it helps to bring in only a day's worth at a time.
Will beetles from firewood eat my furniture? It is very unlikely. Kentucky Extension says the beetles in firewood need much wetter wood than the dry lumber in a home.
How far from the house should I stack firewood? Keep it off the ground and not up against your walls. A rack out in the yard is better than a pile on the porch or along the foundation.
Is it OK to keep firewood in the garage? A cool garage or porch is fine for a short time. Kentucky Extension suggests keeping your main supply in a cool spot and bringing in only what you will burn soon.
Get help with bugs in your home
Most firewood bugs are a short-term nuisance. If you keep seeing spiders, roaches or ants after the wood is gone, they are likely getting in another way. Learn why spiders show up this time of year in our post on spiders in the house in the fall.
At Hometown Pest Solutions in St. Peters, we serve St. Peters, O'Fallon, St. Charles, Wentzville and nearby towns. Learn about our residential pest control service, request a free pest inspection, or call or text 636-297-1335. We are open 7 days a week.