Please Help me Identify This Hole in the Wood!?

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Chopernator

Member
Jul 5, 2011
78
U.S.A
www.woodheat.org
So I got a load of hickory last fall and about May or June of this year I saw dozens of these what I call insects with wings about 2 to three inches long with yellow and black or blue stripes shaped like a hornet but only bigger. At first I thought they were giant hornets lol. But after seeing these holes and saw dust I am assuming that these were caused by these pest mating then laying there larvae on the wood, but its only on the hickory pile??? I do not believe that this is from the Emerald Ash Bore beetle but who knows. This is why I am asking for some assistance in identifying this problem and any remedy you may have. Thank you.
 

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That's a great site. Bugguide.net has been added to my favorites.
 
It happens! That's what I'm not an advocate of long term indoor storage. Even if the pests wouldn't harm your home, they are still a nuisance.

pen
 
I had the same problem with fresh cut hickory last year. They disappeared this year so they must just like the fresh cut.
 
Yes, the painted hickory borer. In a bad year, I have lost as much as 20% by wheight of my cut hickory, with the dust produced being inches deep around the wood pile and anything down wind covered with the stuff. They do prefer fresh cut wood, and since they lay their eggs in the spring, I cut and split my hickory in the late summer or early fall, and by the time sping comes by the wood has dried enough to be less appealing. Z
 
That is some premium advice. Thanks Zimm

pen
 
Your welcome Pen. With a large percentage of my woodlot being hickory, I hate to not use it so I'm always looking for ways to minimize the insect loss. Z
 
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