Termites? and now what.

[thrt15nc]

I re-sawed and then glued back together some white oak for a Morris chair. I'm cleaning up the edges and I noticed some little tunnels full of very fine sawdust. There was a white colored larva in one of the holes. The pic of it isn't good, but I'm including it anyways. I didn't notice the tunnels during the glue-ups about a month ago. I haven't seen this in any of the other pieces I purchased. So can anyone say if this is termite work?:realmad::realmad:

If you think it's the work of termites, what do I do now? Can I still use the wood? The chair is suppose to end up in my living room.

Help?

Tom

 

[PChristy]

It looks like termite work to me - I had them a few years back under the kitchen sink and seen the tunnel work - I recently pulled the siding off of the back of the house and seen where they done a very small amopount of damage - luckly I caught them in time - I don't know what to tell you about your wood for your chair but I did get my house treated and have had it checked everyyear since

 

[jmauldin]

I second that. It looks like termites to me. I would call your pest control company, have the wood treated and ALSO where it was stored. After treatment you can get all the dust left behind and use a good oak wood filler. When, if, you stain it should blend in.
Jim in Mayberry

 

[Woodman2k]

Tom,
that might be power post beetles damage and if so keep it out of your living room.I think you can treat them yourself by wiping or spraying turpentine on the lumber saturating all 4 sides and letting it sit.There are websites with info on how to deal with them.TracyP bought some lumber that had powder post beetles in it ,you have saw dust that is almost like talcum powder.If so ,I don't think it's termites.Was that lumber kiln dried?Somebody else will chime in soon I'm sure that has a better ability to identify your problem and will possibly have better advice.
Greg

 

[jlwest]

I suggest bagging it and treat with some bug stuff. I had this happen to a maple table I made for my mother and one year latter a worm popped out. Interesting conversation piece.:widea:

Jeff

 

[DaveO]

It's hard to tell from your pictures the size of the insect galleries. Termites are going to create a much more extensive and larger sized gallery than Powder Post Beetles. PPB generally bore in and stop. Termites will create much more vast tunnels like honey comb mazes.
The most common termite around these parts is a wet wood termite (Formosa) and they are subterranean. If there is no way for them to get to your wood without being exposed, then they aren't the culprit. Plus they like wet wood, and I assume that this wood is dry. You can find PPB damage in kiln dried wood, and often larva (dead) but you will have no problems with further infestation if it has been properly kiln dried and stored correctly.


Dave

 

[thrt15nc]

Thanks for the replies. Dave the tunnels or galleries? are pretty small. The longest one being two inches or a little more. I used a dentists pick to pull what I thought was sawdust out of them. It is like talcum powder. And the larvae I have looks similar to pics of PPB from the web.

I brought it home from the supplier and it's been in the shop since, up off the floor on a saw horse. I've looked over most of the other pieces and don't see any more spots. Making this arm was a lot of work, I hate to lose it.

Dave I sent you a PM.

Tom

 

[DaveO]

Sounds more like PPB to me, especially with the talc like frass. If the wood has been kiln dried (and I suspect it has coming from the supplier you got it from) then there is no problem. Did the larva move when you poked it with the dental pick? I would if I was alive .
I would check with your supplier to confirm that the wood has been kilned and not stored with any non-kiln dried wood of the same type. PPB are really homebodies and will only infect new wood of the same species.


Dave

 

[jeff...]

Tom - That's Powder Post Beetles - PPB love WO sapwood... but it's rare they get into the heartwood.

 

[thrt15nc]

I was pretty surprised that the larva was soft. I thought it would have been a dead shell, but it didn't like it when I pulled it out with the dental pick. I've still got to trim the arm to final size so I should be able to cut the damaged wood away. Hopefully I won't find any thing else the deeper in I go. :gar-Cr

Tom

 

[jeff...]

I was pretty surprised that the larva was soft. I thought it would have been a dead shell, but it didn't like it when I pulled it out with the dental pick. I've still got to trim the arm to final size so I should be able to cut the damaged wood away. Hopefully I won't find any thing else the deeper in I go. :gar-Cr

Tom

Tom I see the piece on the left still has some wane (bark) on it - From what I've seen that's what PPB like is that soft new wood just under the bark.

 

[thrt15nc]

Tom I see the piece on the left still has some wane (bark) on it - From what I've seen that's what PPB like is that soft new wood just under the bark.

Jeff, you're right there is a little bit there still. And right around it is where most of the damage is at, and right where the little critter was at. I think I'll be able to trim it off.

Thanks for everyone's replies!!!

Tom