An Id of a different sorts...

[Z33]

I had a load of long dead chestnut dropped back in August that had some little critters in it. I didn't see these grubs until the last 3 weeks or so when I started processing the chestnut and some of the oak it was piled with.

They are NUMEROUS in the chestnut and some seem to have moved to the oak. The make perfectly round holes and seem to live between the bark and wood.

Can some one tell me what I have here, should I be worried about the house and how do I kill them? I have already coated the yard in Terazacide as a preliminary step.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Spectrac...ranules-Lawn-Insect-Killer-HG-63941/100023081

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Crappie bait!

 

[Z33]

Crappie bait!

Ha! They would make GREAT crappie bait.... I bet I have killed 200+ in the wood as I have been splitting it.... I am happy to collect some for you and mail them to you if youd like?

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Ha! They would make GREAT crappie bait.... I bet I have killed 200+ in the wood as I have been splitting it.... I am happy to collect some for you and mail them to you if youd like?

I'm not much of an ice fisherman but if they'll keep until spring I just may take you up on that!

 

[Wood Duck]

That looks like a standard beetle grub. I get them in my firewood of many species regularly. I wouldn't worry about them at all. The adult beetles that layed the eggs were free ranging individuals who could have selected your house, live trees, or any other place to lay their eggs. They chose the firewood, and apparently prefer chestnut with the bark on. My point is that they have already had their shot at your house and passed on it. They aren't a danger to the house now. Also, I don't think the grubs are mobile enough to move more than a few inches. Once they fall out of the firewood I think they are doomed whether you squash them or not. in my yard the chickens eat them, and I have also seen Carolina Wrens searching the wood splitting area immediately after I leave, apparently picking up grubs.

 

[Knots]

Hors Douvres...get a cracker!

 

[Applesister]

It looks like a flatheaded wood borer(larvae). They pupate into beetles if allowed to keep munching. I think they might turn into the metallic beetles, but not sure.
The best thing for you is to process the chestnut into firewood and disrupt the bug's life cycle. Cut up the dead trees and burn the wood.
Definitely fodder for the chickens.

 

[jillybeansisme]

Yuk! Found something like that when I was digging in dirt to plant shrubs and trees at my last house. Do not put them in your compost pile . . .but perhaps "can" them, as in: Chestnut grubs roasting in an open fire . . .

 

[Whitepine2]

Don't worry they wont eat much!

 

[rideau]

They do less damage than an insecticide. Insecticides don't know the difference between beneficial and detrimental, and don't easily leave the environment, and pass through the food chain....Best to practice a little tolerance. With a healthy yard, the good predators will take care of almost all the bad...

 

[jimdrea]

They go snap crackle pop when you burn them.