Wood boring insect

LumberGuy · April 17, 2011, 06:51:57 AM

I had cut a dead oak tree and thought I would try and make a shaving horse from it. The tree is about 12" at the thickest part of the log. I was splitting logs into planks when I came across these critters. They appear to be round head wood borers, I have seen their work many times. The tree was cut April 9th, 2011, in Monroe, GA.

If I had been sawing the logs, I would never have seen them. Anybody have an idea of the proper name for this critter?

Ianab · April 17, 2011, 07:04:31 AM

Not sure what they would be in your part of the world, but here we call them huhu, and for the Aussie's it's witchetty grubs.

Apparently they taste a bit like peanut butter, if you ever get that hungry.

The adults are some large sort of beetle or moth. The local ones fly around at night, get attracted to outside lights, and fall into your boots by the back door. Then bite your foot when you put your boots on in the morning >:( :D

Ian

LumberGuy · April 17, 2011, 07:11:53 AM

Thanks, Ianab! They may add a little welcome variety to my usual fare of hickory nuts and collard sandwiches.

SwampDonkey · April 17, 2011, 07:15:54 AM

Might be red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus.

http://www.forestencyclopedia.net/p/p2900

LumberGuy · April 17, 2011, 07:25:16 AM

Yep, that looks like it! Thanks for the link, SwampDonkey!

thecfarm · April 17, 2011, 08:29:11 AM

Guess I'll have to ask the woodpeckers if they taste like peanut butter. smiley_eek_dropjaw Could not find a yuk smiley.

Burlkraft · April 17, 2011, 08:55:25 AM

Quote from: thecfarm on April 17, 2011, 08:29:11 AM
smiley_eek_dropjaw Could not find a yuk smiley.

We do have a puker tho... :D :D

Magicman · April 17, 2011, 01:56:23 PM

They are much better on a green salad than anchovies. ;)

treefarmer87 · April 17, 2011, 02:15:44 PM

i think its one of these maybe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passalidae

i have used them for fishing bait before

ellmoe · April 17, 2011, 02:16:54 PM

Quote from: Magicman on April 17, 2011, 01:56:23 PM
They are much better on a green salad than anchovies. ;)

Anything is better on a green salad than anchovies!

Mark

clww · April 17, 2011, 02:32:25 PM

We get these in VA all the time. They turn into black-colored beetles. Not sure of their name, though. I've pulled out some that are nearly as big as my thumb. The birds love 'em!