What's eating my Red Cedar?

[Eric Magruder]

I have half-a-dozen Red cedar logs that appear something is trying to eat its way in or out, I can't tell which. I see little piles of saw dust here, there, and under each of the logs. So I took the logs back outside until I determine what's going on. I live in Maryland if that helps. Any suggestions?

[Steve Schlumpf]

Eric - I have no idea but here are a couple of sources of info that may help:

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/juniperus/virginiana.htm

http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/red-cedar.html

[Eric Magruder]

Eric - I have no idea but here are a couple of sources of info that may help:

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/juniperus/virginiana.htm

http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/red-cedar.html


Steve,

They are very informative links. I've learned the Eastern Red Cedar is actually a Juniper, and Red Cedar is spelled as one word - Redcedar. lets see how many beers I can win from these tidbits.:D

It looks like the culprits eating away at my wood could be either the
black-horned juniper borer (Callidium texanum)
cedar-tree borer (Semanotus ligneus)
cypress and cedar borer (Oeme rigida)
pales weevil (Hylobius pales).

Now the question is Do they turn well? I think I'll use my face shield on this wood.;)

Thanks

[Allen Neighbors]

It looks like the culprits eating away at my wood could be either:
black-horned juniper borer (Callidium texanum)
cedar-tree borer (Semanotus ligneus)
cypress and cedar borer (Oeme rigida)
pales weevil (Hylobius pales).

Now the question is Do they turn well? I think I'll use my face shield on this wood.;)Thanks

Face shield is a definite necessity for holey wood!! :D:eek::D

[Curt Fuller]

Sounds like powder post beetles.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef616.asp

[Eric Magruder]

Sounds like powder post beetles.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef616.asp

Thanks for the information. Unfortunately, I believe I saw a Lyctid powderpost beetle on the floor and didn't know what it was.

Between bringing insects into the house, and termites which are everywhere, I'm ready to move into a cave.:confused:

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to answer my post, Sawmill Creek is great.

Cheers, E

[Steve Frederick]

Now the question is Do they turn well? I think I'll use my face shield on this wood.;)

Thanks

Bugs turn very well, but don't take a good finish!:eek::eek:

Seriously, If you have juniper, it looks great when done.
My friend makes deck furniture with it, the color's beautiful.

[Cody Colston]

Eric,

Eastern Red Cedar is very prone to bugs, especially if the bark is left on the logs. The good news is that they generally only inhabit the sap wood. You will likely find tiny holes bored in it but I've not noticed any worms inside and I've turned a lot of it.

You might want to wear a face shield just in case, though. :D

[Brian McInturff]

If it's eastern red cedar I doubt that it's powder post beetles.

[Eric Magruder]

What caught my attention was small piles of sawdust on the logs at the entry/exit locations, there was also sawdust on the floor where the entry/exit holes were located on the under side of the logs. I did see a beetle which I quickly disposed of, I don't know the bug by name but it looked too large to have come from the log. If I see this again I'll take some pic's.

Cheers, E