Bug ID

pill bug
found in moist and humus locations

Agreed, the are super common...under rocks and the like

I've got those little guys on a lot of my scrounged wood, under the bark. Mostly the stuff that was either dead standing, or dead and down. I don't think they do anything to the wood, just like to hide out under the bark. Once its split and stacked, they seem to vacate.

smee said:

Also what do i do with th erounds that have that soft wood in them?
Is it ok to burn that stuff?
Will it not dry?

Click to expand...

I get quite a lot of oak that is punky just a little around the edge. I'll leave it, if it's only an inch or so. Any more and I'll cut it off or throw the whole log out, depending how much good wood is in it. It seems to burn OK.

smee said:

Once we are on the topic..
Some of the wood i got is bored through, do i have to worry about bugs near my house?
Also what do i do with th erounds that have that soft wood in them?
Is it ok to burn that stuff?
Will it not dry?

Click to expand...

General consensus for most bugs in wood seems to be that they tend to leave it once its stacked and drying. Not always the case, but you can spray the stacks down if it helps ease your mind. Soft, or punky wood will burn, but it is a sponge with rain and doesn't last as long as a solid piece will. I tend to ditch pieces that are punked all the way through, but if it is a higher value piece, like Oak or ash, and it only has a ring of punk I will split and stack it all the same. Main thing will be keep it dry before you plan to burn it as it doesn't handle rain as well.

ant
Carpenter ants require wood that is already rotten. They're not like termites, that can digest sound wood.

When I was 3 or 4, my sister told me that the reason why they called them pill bugs was because they were good for you. Me, being the gullible type believed her. She told me to try one. I did as I am also the obedient type. They weren't bad.