Bugs hate cedar because the wood contains natural, aromatic oils (like thujone) that act as a built-in pesticide.
Cedar naturally repels a variety of bugs—most notably mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, moths, ants, and chiggers. Its effectiveness comes from aromatic hydrocarbons like thujone and cedrol, which interfere with insect pheromones, disorient pests, and can even dissolve the exoskeletons of vulnerable insects and larvae.
Cedar has been used as an insect repellent for many years. People have built cedar closets in their homes. They have also used cedar hangers and put cedar blocks in dresser drawers to keep moths away from their clothes. Some studies suggest that the cedar repels insects because of the smell of the cedar oil.
The primary disadvantages of cedar wood are its natural softness, which makes it prone to dents and scratches, and its high maintenance requirements to prevent fading and weathering. It is also more expensive than woods like pine and can be a respiratory irritant when cut.
Several wood species naturally repel insects due to their chemical composition (e.g., natural oils and resins). These woods are excellent choices for outdoor furniture, fencing, and indoor closets.
Cedar repels bugs for 3 to 12 months, depending on how it's used. Its pest-deterrent qualities come from the natural aromatic oils that evaporate over time. Once the scent fades, the wood loses its repelling properties.
That depends on your definition of hard, but termites, bedbugs, and cockroaches top the list. In the pest control world, the top most challenging cases are those that involve severe infestations of termites, bed bugs, and cockroaches. Each of these sends shivers down most people's spines, and for good reason.
Cedar trees are everywhere mentioned with admiration in the Old Testament. Solomon made the cedar the first of trees (1 Kings 4:33). They are the "glory of Lebanon" (Isaiah 35:2; 60:13). The most boastful threat of Sennacherib was that he would cut down the tall cedars of Lebanon (Isaiah 37:24).
Keep Moisture Away
Moisture is the key factor in most wood rot and deterioration. It's best to keep your cedar wood away from moisture and protect against it. Moisture leads to mould and mildew, which could be the end of your cedar wood.
In Indigenous cultures, particularly among Pacific Northwest and Woodland tribes, cedar is revered as the "Tree of Life" because every part of the tree provides essential materials for daily survival, spiritual practices, and medicine.
Native Americans effectively repelled bugs using diverse, regionally specific methods, including botanical rubs, aromatic smoke, and physical barriers.
Cedar oil and wood chips offer mild, temporary repellent effects against bed bugs due to their strong scent, which many insects find disorienting. However, cedar does not kill or eliminate bed bugs, nor will it solve an active infestation.
Bed bugs are driven out of hiding primarily by carbon dioxide from human breath and body heat. As they detect these biological cues, they emerge from their harborages—typically cracks, crevices, and mattress seams—to seek a host and feed.
Yes, mice dislike the strong, earthy scent of cedar. However, while the smell can deter them from enclosed areas like closets or cabinets, scents are rarely a standalone solution for a full infestation. Mice are highly adaptable and may eventually ignore the smell or build nests near it if food and warmth are present.
States with the driest, coldest, or highest-elevation climates generally have the fewest bugs. Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming are widely considered the best options. Their low humidity and lack of stagnant water prevent the swarms common in the rest of the country.
For the quickest and most effective roach eradication, commercial gel baits are your best option. Baits allow roaches to ingest the poison and return to their nests, creating a domino effect that wipes out the colony. Professional-grade products yield the fastest results.
Cedar trees also absorb a great deal of water, which robs the land and water sources of their water supply. In a normal year, this is not as much of a problem. But during dry years it can really hinder grass production, which is ultimately what ranching is all about. Another reason to keep cedars away is cosmetic.
At a young age, her father had a truth spell cast on her, which prevents her from lying and makes her prone to share truths without actual provocation. The spell won't wear off until her incarnation of the story commences.
While it's common knowledge that cedar chips deter moths from munching on your sweaters and other wool items in summer storage, cedar is also useful in deterring other pests both inside and outside. Cedar's superpower to combat unwanted bugs, snakes and rodents lies in its distinctive and pleasant earthy smell.
Using it for starting your fires is just fine. But burning it exclusively is not recommended. Pockets of these cedar oils will cause pops and spits of fire sparks and embers, making it quite dangerous for use in an open, inside fireplace.
When Israel first built for worship, God commanded the Ark of the Covenant and many Tabernacle furnishings to be made from acacia wood and overlaid with gold (Exodus 25). Acacia is dense and resistant to decay—excellent for holy things that had to travel.
The Egyptians used cedar mainly in the temples, for example for the large wooden doors, the shrines holding the statues of the gods, and the divine barks which were carried by the priests during processions. It was also used for making large funerary objects, such as sarcophagi and shrines.
The mayfly is the most famous insect known for an adult lifespan of just 24 hours (with some species lasting only a few minutes or hours). As adults, they have no functional mouthparts and do not eat; their sole purpose in this short window is to swarm, mate, and lay eggs.
The only methods that guarantee a 100% kill rate for both bed bugs and their eggs are extreme heat and professional multi-step pest control treatments.
This buggy-eyed beast is the spiny devil katydid (Panacanthus cuspidatus), also known as the thorny devil. It wears its characteristic head protrusion like a tiny little crown, and rightly so, because these bizarre insects rule the forest.