I collected a few pieces of bamboo to use for toys for my children. (I thought if I cut it into different lengths it would make a set of ring shaped "blocks" that they would enjoy.) I let it dry for a year in my shop and I looked at it yesterday and discovered that it is harboring little tiny bamboo eating insects. The insects are maybe 1/32 inch in diameter and in a few places there are holes on the outside of the bamboo and 1/2 inch tall piles of bamboo dust underneath them. Despite all the bamboo dust, the bamboo mostly looks OK. I cut it up into "blocks" as planned, discarding the portions that showed obvious signs of insect damage. But the bugs may be lurking inside the walls of the bamboo.
I'm wondering if anybody knows what I can do to kill bugs that might still be in the bamboo. I'm thinking I need to "cook" the bamboo, but I'm not sure how long and at what temperature. (Presumably if I apply too much heat the bamboo will dry too fast and crack.)
I'm also wondering if these bamboo bugs like other woods like maple and walnut since I'd rather my wood stash not become riddled with small holes. (I didn't see any little holes in the wood that was underneath the bamboo.)