A beast that loves wood abounds in East-du-Québec this summer

Black longicorns abound in East-du-Québec this year, according to Natural Resources Canada. For DIY enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, the increased presence of this insect which attacks wood, however, is not yet felt in hardware stores.

These small black critters with long antennas leave traces on their way, small galleries visible to the lasting wood.

Christian Hébert, researcher in ecology and diversity of forest insects for Natural Resources Canada, explains that black longicorns lay their eggs in the bark of vulnerable conifers.

The larvae then crash the wood during their development, which goes around two years, before going out in the open air.

The insect generally proliferates after events such as forest fires, twisted epidemics of spruce bourgeons and wind storms. These are insects that are said to be secondary because they will come second to a first stressdetails Christian Hébert.

Two years after major forest fires in 2023, the researcher is therefore not surprised by the marked presence of the insect in the region.

The pantry is full for this insect, so it is not surprising to see that it is very present and noticed by the population.

However, this abundance in the forest does not yet seem to make waves in wood lessons.

The Quebec Hardware and Construction Materials Association (AQMAT) notes from its members that the long -term timber by Les Longicornes is no more abundant this year than the previous ones.

The president of theAQMATRichard Darveau, also believes that the industry is better equipped to cope with this insect. We learn to deal with him, especially in terms of the speed of stocks of stockshe says.

Richard Darveau still monitors the situation closely, since the damage inflicted by Longicornes can harm the sale of wood.

It is also a reality with which the Forest Cooperative Boisaco, in Sacré-Coeur, must compose.

Some customers will prefer not to have parts affected by black larvae holes, so may go to other suppliers. So it’s still an important issuesupports the president of the Boisaco group, Steeve St-Gelais.

Steeve St-Gelais as Richard Darveau recall that longicorns only compromise the visual aspect of sold wood, since its integrity must still meet criteria.

It takes a lot of holes that affect the parts to really degrade the capacity, the driving force of wood. It is much more a visual impact.

For his part, researcher Christian Hébert underlines that the insect is not harmful. This decomposition engineer Even plays an essential role in the forest cycle.

When a tree dies, it is there to promote the entry of mushrooms and other insects which will participate in the restoration of nutrients which are immobilized in the woody tissues when the trees diedhighlights Christian Hébert.

With the collaboration of Laurana Genest