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Feeding

Figure 5—When growth rings separate from the
rest of the wood, insects can enter a
building’s siding. Woodpeckers damage the
siding when they feed on the insects.
Woodpeckers may be attracted to buildings to feed on insect larvae. Voids in a building’s siding provide excellent insect nesting sites and hiding places. This is especially true of plywood siding. The siding has routed groves that expose voids in the plywood layers, making them a natural nesting site for insects. Lap siding that is not nailed down tightly can provide voids for insects. Also as flat-grained boards (sawed tangent to the growth rings) age and dry, the growth rings tend to separate from the rest of the wood, providing an opening for insects (Figure 5). Damage caused when woodpeckers feed on insect larvae can usually be identified by rows of cone-shaped holes (Figure 6) and is more common in plywood siding or near the edge of lap siding.

Figure 6—Woodpeckers leave rows of cone-
shaped holes when they feed on insect
larvae in wood siding.

Solving Problems Related to Feeding

Insect nests can sometimes be destroyed by using a long stiff wire to poke through the voids in the plywood. After the larvae have been killed, the entry should be caulked shut. Repair the damage and make the repair look like the rest of the building.

Typically, woodpeckers will not spend energy looking for insects in a sound building. The way to prevent foraging woodpeckers from damaging buildings is to protect the wood from insects. Regularly protecting the wood with a sealer will discourage most insects.

Roofs made from wooden shakes or shingles can be replaced with tin. Metal roofs will eliminate nesting and hiding places for insects. They will also help protect the building from fire.

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This page last modified September 15, 2000

Visitor since September 15, 2000