How to Kill a Termite Colony in Firewood

Termites can destroy firewood.

Termites can be more than just annoying pests, they can pose a serious threat to your property. Even when termites live outside the home, they can still destroy firewood and set up thriving colonies beneath it. If the firewood is stacked near or against a building, the building could become infested with termites as well. You can hire a professional to exterminate the termite colony at a pricey cost, but there is always the option of eliminating the termites yourself.

Instructions

1. Dig shallow holes approximately 1 foot apart around the firewood pile. If possible, dig more shallow holes beneath the firewood. You will be placing lethal bait in these holes; the more bait you place in the ground, the better the odds that the termites will find them.

2. Place below-ground termite bait, or termite stakes, in the holes.

3. Cover the holes with dirt.

4. Place above-ground baits atop the firewood and around the pile. Try to place them in areas where you see termite tunnels. Termite tunnels are small and the insides are lined with mud.

5. Elevate the firewood pile at least 6 inches off the ground. You can do this by purchasing or making a wood cart that holds the firewood off the ground. This will prevent new termites from discovering the firewood pile.

6. Wait for the termites to find the bait and pass the poison to the rest of the colony. This can be a slow process and it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a month for the entire colony to be exterminated.

Tips & Warnings

• Termite stakes are environmentally safe and less damaging to plants or animals than pesticides.

References

• "University of Kentucky College of Agriculture"; Termite Baits: a Guide for Termites; Michael F. Potter
• "The University of Arizona"; Drywood Termites; Dawn H. Gouge, Kirk A. Smith, Carl Olson, Paul Baker

Resources

• University of Kentucky Entomology