Ok, how do others handle this?
I have about 1 cord in my backyard. It's the season to have a bee problem and they like that area. Since I fully plan to burn this wood in the fireplace next winter, I cant just spray it with pesticides. I do not have a shed.
I was thinking to spray a plastic tarp, then put this over the wood.
Plastic tarp may help, but it may just protects the bee nests inside. You could fumigate under it though. Any pesticide will have dissipated long before it is time to burn the wood.
I can't think of any pesticide that would not be completely gone after
10-30 days. A spray bottle of warm soapy water will work with a direct hit. A handful of mothballs under the tarp will keep them away for several months.
Assuming you mean carpenter bees- If you're going to burn it next winter then you have begun the extermination campaign. They will lay eggs in your firewood. You will burn it before they hatch. There might be some hibernating parents who will wander out and stagger drunkenly about your house for a while if you bring the wood in early. Next year you will have eliminated one generation of bees that use your firewood for egg-laying.
Not a good idea. It holds too high a humidity- and will provide cover for even more vermin.
Jim
"Jim Elbrecht" wrote
Probably. I'm not real savy on such. Fat suckers. Bumblebee looking to me.
True, but the issue is more yard safety when we are out there now.
Ugg, thats all I need. Drunk parents in the house .
Humm. I wasnt thinking a tight cover, more an open ended sort of thing. Some of the other say I can spray it now and it will all dissapate before winter burning, but I'm not totally comfortable with that idea.
I'm wondering if there is some more 'natural' solution I could use that will make them just prefer another spot. Like, if they dont like salt, to salt the pile (which shouldnt disrupt burning it later as far as I know). Sorta like I control ants with dry grits on the pile in dry weather, or grass growth in some areas with vinegar. If they hate marigolds like some 'bugs' do, I could put lots of that all around but somehow I dont think these critters care about marigolds...
i have the same problem . i just leave them alone.the big ones are males and dont sting.i was told the female doesnt come out. i bring the wood in and burn it ,no problem.i did kill some by spraying some gasoline in the pile but i left them alone after i found they dont sting.lucas
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"Phisherman" wrote
Now that might be just perfect! I can bag them up in net bags and put them all around. The tarp is not tightly covering the pile, more there to keep water away from the top and only covers the upper layer or so.
I really need to make a more proper woodshed, but we've got so many things we've needed to do here after the place was rented for 6+ years, thats one we know won't happen soon.
I did have an idea though for a simple one. It's *not* a perfect shed, but wouldnt be expensive and be better than a stack in the yard.
Wood fencing material (8'lx6't roughly) to make a 3 sided 'box' with 2x4 corners for stability and a sort of roof over it of same. I could then have some sort of screen like material across the front that was openable (or removed in winter) yet could be sprayed in this season without worry about the wood. Just thinking ideas... Oh and this is in a back yard that is already fully fenced so is not visible from other than inside the back yard. In fact if I use the corner, I need make only the one extending wall then a 'roof' supported by 2x4 framing.
Where I have seen carpenter bees, they weren't numerous. If you can find their tunnels, just dust the tunnel at night when they are dormant. Or spray the ones you see. AFAIK, they are pests.
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