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What kind of insect is this, and is it harmful inside my house? #857409

Asked January 15, 2024, 4:46 PM EST

I sometimes heat my house with wood. I believe this insect might have been in the wood that is in my house. I think it’s from a dead box elder tree. According to your pictures it looks like a conifer saw fly. I’ve seen about 2 dozen in the house so far this winter. Can the do any harm to the inside of my house? Thanks so much

Washington County Minnesota

Expert Response

Tom, Thanks for the question. Sawflies are no threat inside your house. Apparently they emerged when you brought the wood indoors. Conifer sawflies feed on needles. Sometimes new growth needles and sometimes old needles - time to move the Christmas tree outdoors. Haha!

Paul 

Mastre Gardener volunteer

An Ask Extension Expert Replied January 16, 2024, 5:42 PM EST
Thanks Paul!
On Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 4:42 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied January 16, 2024, 6:30 PM EST

Tom, After looking closer at your insect photo, it was determined that it is not a sawfly but rather a red headed ash bore. They likely did come in on your firewood but are not likely to re-infest wood in your house. Not harmful to people. See link below for more detail:

https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/insect/indoor/beetles/medium/redheadedashborer.html

Paul

An Ask Extension Expert Replied January 17, 2024, 8:03 PM EST
Thanks Paul. So glad to know it shouldn’t go after/into the wood in my house. Say…two other questions:
1) one of the trees I cut this summer had larger (looked like carpenter) ants in them. I let them sit for a couple of months for the nest to move on, but can carpenter ants re-infest in a home?
2) I live rurally and have a huge number of box elder bugs covering my west side every fall. Through fall and winter they’ll work their way in to the home. I’ll probably kill 500 inside the home through winter. I know their harmless, but what do you suggest for limiting their presence? Thanks

Tom Vujovich

 


On Jan 17, 2024, at 7:03 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied January 17, 2024, 9:45 PM EST

Tom, You don't want carpenter ants inside your house so make certain they are not in fire wood you are bringing in. See info here on carpenter ants: https://extension.umn.edu/insects-infest-homes/carpenter-ants#indoor-control-of-carpenter-ants-104012

Here is införmation on those harmless but nuisance boxelder bugs: https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/boxelder-bugs#what-to-do-about-boxelder-bugs-outdoors-117860

Thanks for the questions. I hope this information is helpful.

Paul

An Ask Extension Expert Replied January 18, 2024, 6:41 PM EST

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