Wood ant infestation

[sepulvd]

What should I do a received a truckload for 10 bucks but now I noticed that each log is infested with ants but it's only the first inch of wood the rest is still perfect

 

[firefighterjake]

Split . . . toss to the side . . . let the birds enjoy the Ant Buffet.

A few days later . . . pick up splits . . . stack.

 

[Wood Duck]

I do exactly what firefighterjake wrote. Ants are inclined to live in drying, split firewood.

 

[sepulvd]

I didn't even think about that since I split in my garage

 

[Montanalocal]

If the wood is getting dry enough that the bark is starting to come loose, it is good to get the bark off as much as possible. That is what I try to do with my dead Ponderosa pine, as most of my ants nest just under the bark. I do try to leave all the loose bark and insects out in the woods, otherwise it does make a heck of a mess.

 

[sepulvd]

Yea that's what am doing chopping the bark off with my hatchet and trying to see if my chickens will eat the ants

 

[ihookem]

My chickens will pick every bug out of the bark.

 

[Bret Chase]

My chickens will pick every bug out of the bark.

oh hell yeah they do.... from time to time I will split a round of something that was dead standing... and there will be a whole ant nest, larvae and all.... I walk over to the chicken's run and bang the splits together, knocking all the ants into it. My chickens come flying sideways out of the coop to get at the ants.

 

[billb3]

I do exactly what firefighterjake wrote. Ants are inclined to live in drying, split firewood.

disinclined maybe

if it is in the Winter and you split or axe some of the punk off exposing the ants they freeze.
under thirty degrees they usually barely move
They need that tight little chamber they chewed to huddle up in and over-winter to stay just warm enough.

 

[sepulvd]

Thanks for all the info

 

[MarylandGuy]

If the ants are still there in the spring, boil some sugar water, let it cool and add a little boric acid from your pharmacy. Put the solution in small paper cups cut down to an inch high and watch them feast. They carry the solution back to the nest and wipe out the entire colony. Works every time.

 

[wardk]

Split . . . toss to the side . . . let the birds enjoy the Ant Buffet.

A few days later . . . pick up splits . . . stack.

WE have ant hives here that look like half a large beach ball above ground, lots of birds but they seem to leave the ants alone.