INSECT ENEMIES OF EASTERN FORESTS Al 
Chemical Treatment 
For valuable uninfested stock that is to-be held for some years. such 
as ax handles, gun stock, or lumber, painting or spraying with linseed 
oil or other oils or paraffins that will fill the pores of the wood and 
thus prevent the laying of eggs by the beetles will prevent damage to 
the wood indefinitely. Dipping the green wood in a 5-percent water 
solution of borax is also an effective preventive if the solution is hot 
(180° F.), or a cold 1- or 2-percent water suspension of finely divided 
sulfur (Christian (88, 90). A 5-percent solution of pentachloro- 
phenol in a fuel oil will also prevent attack to seasoned wood. These 
treatments must be repeated if the coating is removed. 
For flooring that is already infested and for heavy dimension stock 
in use 1n structures, one or two applications by spraying or saturating 
the wood with orthodichlorobenzene, paradichlorobenzene dissolved in 
kerosene or light fuel oil, or a 5-percent solution of pentachlorophenol 
in fuel oil will generally destroy the insects. 
For infested stored wooden products, dipping in a 5-percent solution 
of pentachlorophenol in fuel oil will kill the borers. Heavy-dimension 
material will require longer submergence than thinner stock. 
Jaln Drying 
Where facilities are available, bringing infested stock to a tempera- 
ture of 125° F., or higher, and, after this temperature has been reached 
within the wood, holding it there for an hour or more will kill all the 
insects. The exact time required depends upon the temperature, 
humidity of the kiln, and the thickness of the stock being treated. 
This treatment destroys all insects present but does not prevent subse- 
quent attack. For further information on lethal temperatures see 
Snyder (358), Snyder and St. George (394), and St. George (368). 
Water or Steam Treatments 
Stream driving of hardwood logs to the mill or holding them in a 
millpond for several months, so reduces or affects the food content of 
the wood that it is no longer susceptible to attack by Lyctus and related 
powder-post beetles. Steaming, as commercially practiced in some 
industries, also produces the same result and brings about immunity 
to any subsequent attack. 
PROTECTING POLES AND SLABS FOR RUSTIC WORK 
The construction of cabins, bridges, and rustic furniture has given 
rise to a growing demand for logs, poles, and slabs with the bark left 
on. In some industries, such as the manufacture of shuttle blocks, 
mallets, and mauls, it is the usual practice to store small-dimension 
material with the bark on, for seasoning. Such material is peculiarly 
subject to insect attack because most wood-boring insects require the 
soft, inner bark for the early stages of their development. The types 
of insects affecting this class of material are pinhole borers, round- 
headed and flatheaded borers, powder-post beetles, and carpenter ants. 
