How long can a bug hold it's breath?

**j10asen** · 04-20-2007, 08:41 AM

Ok now I realize this may sound dumb but ...
I have been thinking about this emerald ash borer and how I can no longer bring my own fire wood while camping. I just can not help but think that has to be a way to purify firewood of bugs. Like hold the wood in a container and extract all the oxygen for awhile. ( now sure on time)
Are there any of you intelligent people out there that would know anything about bugs,insects,pests thaqt may harm our envirnment? Does this sound feasable or am I completely off the wall?

Another thought is a light coating of wax or some other natural sealer.
any thoughts out there?

pk · 04-21-2007, 11:17 PM

Well let me tell you that I found this a good question. You would think that they could come up with something that could kill these insects from the firewood so someone can carry the wood and not spread the bug, so you can use your own firewood.

I looked and looked and could not come up with anything. Certainly not anything about putting it in a bag with no air....but still, you think if you did cover it and used a spray for killing bugs that it would destroy them and get them out of the firewood.

And it makes me wonder if they don't have a sealer that they can spray on the trees that will prevent the bugs from being attracted to it? Something that will also kill the bug if they start to eat into the tree? Interesting.

Certainly someone here should have some answer to this?

pk

pk · 04-21-2007, 11:23 PM

I did find this information about spraying your trees (nothing about spraying firewood):

Homeowners also have the option of spraying small trees themselves with Bayer Multi-Insect Killer, containing cyfluthrin (the same active ingredient that is in Tempo). Now is also a good time for trunk injections with imidacloprid (Pointer, Imicide, Ima-jet). Trunk injections made last year in late May with imidacloprid worked well. We also know that bidrin trunk injections worked well in late May, July, and August. There is still time to treat ash trees this year to protect them from emerald ash borer attack this summer, but don't wait much longer if that is what you want to do.

**CarolsCritterCare** · 04-22-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j10asen

Ok now I realize this may sound dumb but ...
I have been thinking about this emerald ash borer and how I can no longer bring my own fire wood while camping. I just can not help but think that has to be a way to purify firewood of bugs. Like hold the wood in a container and extract all the oxygen for awhile. ( now sure on time)
Are there any of you intelligent people out there that would know anything about bugs,insects,pests thaqt may harm our envirnment? Does this sound feasable or am I completely off the wall?

Another thought is a light coating of wax or some other natural sealer.
any thoughts out there?

I saw the subject line and laughed.......but really....this is a great question. Got me thinking and I surfed around some and can't find an answer. HHHHMMMM
Carol

nathan · 04-23-2007, 01:34 PM

A Bug's Breath
X-Rays Settle Mystery of Insects' 'Lungs'

By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 24, 2003; Page A01

Exposing insects to X-ray beams a billion times more powerful than the ones that doctors use, researchers have at last settled one of the longest-running -- if lesser-known -- controversies in science: Bugs, it turns out, do breathe....

To read this whole article,
which I think pretty much sums up your quesiton goto: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...an23?language=

**j10asen** · 04-24-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathan

A Bug's Breath
X-Rays Settle Mystery of Insects' 'Lungs'

By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 24, 2003; Page A01

Exposing insects to X-ray beams a billion times more powerful than the ones that doctors use, researchers have at last settled one of the longest-running -- if lesser-known -- controversies in science: Bugs, it turns out, do breathe....

To read this whole article,
which I think pretty much sums up your quesiton goto: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...an23?language=

Thank you nathan, that is a very good and interesting link. Now how long and at what oxegen level will it take to suffocate those darn bugs?

Evidently the cock roach must breath though it's body as they can survive without a head for a while. Obviously you do not need a brain to live either! :wink:
I might be considered living proof of that statement :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

**j10asen** · 09-17-2007, 03:09 PM

Update
The Wisconsin department of Natural resourses (DNR) placed emerald ash borer traps around the state this summer to see how much of an infiltration of these little bugs we actually have.
The answer so far acording to the newspaper last week, ZERO, not one emerald ash borer has been trapped all summer long.
That goes to show you how well Wisconsin campers have followed the rules and are keeping out state forest land free of "emerald ash borer"
The DNR has proved one again their forward thinking. I just bet revenue sales are up on firewood in state parks too, this I am sure will help keep the cost down for entrance fees next year.
Keep up the good work guys!!!

I still would like to know how long they can hold thier breath.
If anyone out there has a clue ,please post it here.
Thank You

kmfarm · 09-17-2007, 09:22 PM

Without knowing the answer to the question, I'd be willing to bet that anything that could be done to smother the bugs in firewood would probably be to cost prohibitive. The expense would outway the cost of "approved" wood.

As far as the DNR goes, it shows me that they went overboard (again) on a non-issue. I'd hate to know the (tax) money spent on the studies and "prevention".

Mark

xswinnyx · 11-14-2008, 10:37 PM

I myself would have to say, that the answer to the question "How long can a bug hold it's breath?" would have to be...

"Until it needs to breathe."
I don't claim to be a scientist, nor do I have any proof of this, I just hope that this may help you in your quest to solve the actual problem, good luck!

pk · 11-14-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

"Until it needs to breathe."
I don't claim to be a scientist, nor do I have any proof of this, I just hope that this may help you in your quest to solve the actual problem, good luck!

lol Great answer! Makes sense to me.

**CarolsCritterCare** · 11-15-2008, 04:08 AM

Yup, makes sense to me too!

**keith** · 11-20-2008, 10:14 PM

Fascinating old thread that I don't recall seeing before.

Good questions, interesting article.

Entrance fees may be low, but firewood is way expensive for any kind of good campfire! Tough when I have trees at home I've felled and plenty of logs right here. I'll have to use the local campground more often.

Funny there isn't a firewood exchange going on. Campers from one area exchanging wood with campers from other areas to get around the bug problem.

Regards,
Keith

Randymetro · 11-20-2008, 10:14 PM

I pushed a bee in the swimming pool under water for a long time and it was still breathing so I felt sorry for it and helped the bee out to see another day.