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Why Does Cedar Repel Moths

12/26/2019

Sweaters are now a million-dollar industry. If you have a sweater that has lasted throughout the year, it likely has been stored in cedar wood. You might be wondering, “Does cedar repel moths?” Yes, it does. The smell of cedar is the scent of a well-known pesticide.

Background

Even in the time of the Ancient Greeks, humans realized that cedar wood kept the pests away. Humans constructed chests made from cedar. Though, it wasn’t until the 20s and 30s that scientists started to understand what cedar does and how it does it.

It is now known that cedar’s pest-repelling power is in the oil that permeates the wood. The oil from specific types of real cedar repels clothes moths from putting their eggs in wool and other fabrics.

Mothballs

Mothballs, the chemical alternative to cedar oil, are efficient but not recommended. They are true pesticide and can be deadly for anything or anyone (human, moth, pet) who inhales it. The chemicals in mothballs are hazardous and potent. They aren’t worth the risk of exposure for yourself and your loved ones.

If moths really are a huge enough issue for you, make sure to keep your attics and closets free of moths. This can be done by continuously vacuuming, up the dust and hair that attracts them.

Another Layer of Protection

You can help reestablish the cedar’s repellency by slightly sanding the cedar or by putting on a layer of cedar oil. The truth is you shouldn’t put your faith in cedar to stop fabric pests.

Having a storage chest that is closely constructed is way more important in keeping clothes moths out than if your wood chest is built from cedar. Call Rochester Tree Care Company to see if you can get a wooden storage chest constructed for you.

The heartwood of red cedar has natural oils that aid in killing clothes-moth larvae. Though, this by itself won't shield your clothing. It's not efficient against carpet beetles. With moths, it destroys just young larvae, not eggs or older larvae. Also, the effectiveness fades right along with the scent.

In order to keep moths at bay, you need to revitalize the potency of cedar by interchanging cedar chips, sprays, or strips every six months. You can also buy cedar wood trunks and hangers that can safeguard your clothing.

What To Do If You Find Wood Grubs In Your Firewood

12/12/2019

When you chop firewood for commercial or personal use, you might have found some little worms crawling around in the wood. They are really wood grub. There are a lot of various insects that hide inside of trees and lay eggs. Once the larvae emerge, they grow in the wood until they become completely grown insects.

The Pacific flatheaded borer is a well-known species of wood boring insects. This is a beetle that has been a big pest in the U.S. and Canada. Wood grubs seek out stressed or weakened trees, burrowing into them. If the tree is little enough, it may only take one borer to destroy the entire tree.

Golden Buprestid Beetle

Another well-known wood boring beetle is the golden buprestid beetle. These pests are a problem for homeowners and tree owners. They like to burrow into dying or dead wood and might continue to live inside of wood that has been cut down to construct homes.

Like other types of wood boring pests, they put their eggs in weakened wood. The larvae feed until they grow into full grown beetles. This specific type remains in its larval stage for years. You may see larvae inside firewood cut from lumber that was chopped years ago.

The destruction the golden buprestid beetle creates look like the destruction done by carpenter ants. They leave tiny fecal pellets behind them, creating little tunnels with circular bases.

California Root Borer

The California root borer is very well-known on the U.S. west coast. This beetle burrows into the roots of trees and puts its eggs there. The larvae tend to burrow upward in the roots. Ultimately, they will pupate close to the soil surface and grows into a reddish-brown beetle.

These are just a couple of examples of wood boring insects that may leave pests in the lumber you own as firewood. While they are able of being big pests, odds are they are not responsible for any permanent damage to your tree. However, you must be sure your tree is healthy. An arborist with Rochester Tree Service can do an examination that lets you know if your tree is in good physical shape.

ROCHESTER TREE SERVICE NEWS & BLOGS

Why Does Cedar Repel Moths

What To Do If You Find Wood Grubs In Your Firewood

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