Someone ate my firewood :(

[Dmitry]

I took down a tree that was in a wrong place. I was told that a swamp maple. Fairly big tree ,I was expecting to get some BTUs out of it. But large white inch long grubs got it before me. The inside of the tree was filled with soil-like substance and grabs and ants.
The tree was near the pond, I'm wondering if this was the factor. is that a common thing?
Pictures below

 

[Dmitry]

Some pics

 

[Woody Stover]

Don't harbor a grudge; Take 'em fishin' with you!

 

[TreePointer]

I guess you can be thankful you didn't find half an animal in there.

 

[Dmitry]

My turtle enjoyed the meal.

 

[Dmitry]

Waiting for more

 

[Knots]

Most likely due to ants. Luckily it wasn't further along than that. Dropping hollow trees is unpredictable...

 

[notshubby]

I don't discriminate theres still gonna be a lot of usable wood. round here a lot of your big maples and cherrys are hollow at the stump gets smaller as it goes up.i jjust look at it this way them hollow ones split easier.

 

[billb3]

Likely heart rot

Oaks get stump rot

Near the pond is irrelevant

I've found earthworms 15 feet up in a crotch rot.
I've also found them in the wood pile.

 

[Dmitry]

I've also found them in the wood pile.[/quote]
Wood pile as a pile of firewood?

 

[Dmitry]

I don't discriminate theres still gonna be a lot of usable wood. round here a lot of your big maples and cherrys are hollow at the stump gets smaller as it goes up.i jjust look at it this way them hollow ones split easier.

The upper part of the tree is still good and solid.

 

[billb3]

I've also found them in the wood pile.

Wood pile as a pile of firewood?[/quote]
Stack of firewood.
May not have been top covered (at the time).

 

[Clyde S. Dale]

Most likely due to ants. Luckily it wasn't further along than that. Dropping hollow trees is unpredictable...

It sure is. My BIL dropped a red oak this past winter that was dead and somewhat hollow. As the tree was falling a bunch of flying squirrels scrambled out and into the surrounding trees. Since it was winter I guess we interrupted their hibernation...

 

[Wood Duck]

I have found similar grubs in a hollow White Ash that was more or less dead when it was felled. I don't think the grubs did the damage, they just live in the rotting wood after the ants do the damage.

 

[Applesister]

Those trees are excellent candidates for firewood. Messy sometimes to process, not attractive but a good culling choice.

 

[brant2000]

They also make nice, rustic flower pots for the misses. We have a few that have been around for 3 years or so and are still holding up really well.