Do Wooden Screens attract insects?

When I started my wood screen supply business three years ago, I honestly didn’t think I’d get asked this question this often: “Do wooden screens attract insects?” Early on, I’d shrug it off as a common homeowner worry, something easily fixed with a quick tip about cedar oil or a coat of sealant. But now, after talking to hundreds of contractors, new homeowners, and small business owners who’ve ordered my wooden screens for patios, deck enclosures, and outdoor privacy walls, I realize this isn’t just a trivial question—it’s one that shapes how people plan their outdoor spaces, and I need to give them answers rooted in real science, not just guesses. Wooden Screen

Let’s start with the basics: what makes any wood product attractive to insects, and how do wooden screens fit into that? First, not all wood is the same. I source most of my screens from two types of hardwood and softwood—cedar and cypress, specifically—because they’re durable, weather-resistant, and have that warm, natural look people love for outdoor spaces. A lot of my competitors use pressure-treated pine or cheaper softwoods, which are a whole different story. But here’s the thing about wood and insects: insects don’t go after wood because they “like” it, usually. They go after it because it’s a food source, a place to nest, or a shelter from the elements. That’s the core rule I teach every customer, and every time I look it up for a new question, it checks out with entomological studies.

Let’s break down the insect types first, because not all insects are created equal, and wooden screens only interact with a small subset. The three most common insects people worry about when it comes to wooden outdoor structures are wood-boring insects (like termites, carpenter ants, and powderpost beetles), surface-feeding pests (like carpenter bees, which don’t actually eat wood, just tunnel into it to lay eggs), and nuisance insects like mosquitoes or gnats that might rest on screen surfaces. Let’s go through each, because the answer to “do wooden screens attract them” is different for every group.

Starting with the big one that keeps customers up at night: wood-destroying insects. Termites, carpenter ants, powderpost beetles—these are the ones that can actually damage wood, so it’s no wonder people ask. Now, do wooden screens attract these? The short answer is no, not inherently. What attracts them is moisture and access to unprotected, vulnerable wood. Here’s the science: termites need consistent moisture to survive. They don’t seek out cedar or cypress specifically, but if a wooden screen is installed right next to a moisture-prone area—like a sprinkler that hits the base every day, or a spot where rainwater pools against the bottom of the screen, or if the screen is left untreated and sits in damp soil for weeks—then that’s going to draw termites. Those same conditions would draw termites to a wooden deck, a fence post, or even a wooden picnic table, not just a screen.

Carpenter ants, too, don’t actually eat wood—they carve out tunnels to build their nests, and they prefer rotting or damp wood because it’s softer and easier to work with. A dry, well-sealed wooden screen made from cedar that’s installed six inches above the ground (a standard installation I recommend to all my customers) is not going to be appealing to carpenter ants. I’ve had screens installed in Florida, Texas, and even parts of the Pacific Northwest with high humidity, and we’ve only had three reports of ant issues in three years—and each of those was because the customer installed the screen too close to their foundation, and water was seeping into the base. That’s not the screen’s fault, that’s installation and maintenance.

Powderpost beetles are a little trickier, because they can infest unseasoned or improperly stored wood. That’s why I only use air-dried or kiln-dried wood for my screens—kiln drying heats the wood to 120°F or higher for several days, which kills any existing beetle eggs or larvae, so when the screen arrives at a customer’s home, it’s already free of these pests. A lot of smaller, cheaper lumber suppliers skip the kiln drying step to save money, so their wooden screens might arrive with hidden beetle eggs that hatch a few months later. That’s a supplier issue, not a wood type issue. I make sure every batch of wood I buy is kiln-dried, and I keep records of it because I’ve seen what happens when suppliers cut corners here.

Now, the next group: carpenter bees. These are the big, fuzzy bees that look like bumblebees but have shiny black abdomens, and they love to tunnel into wooden structures. Do they attract wooden screens? Again, it’s not the wood itself, but the surface. Carpenter bees prefer exposed, unfinished softwood or hardwood that’s at least a few inches thick. Cedar and cypress are actually less attractive to carpenter bees than pine or fir, because their grain is denser and the wood has natural oils that repel the bees. I’ve had customers in my own neighborhood (I live in a suburb of Atlanta, which has a bad carpenter bee problem) who installed my cedar screens two years ago, and they’ve only had one small tunnel in one panel—compared to their old pine fence, which had over a dozen. The key here is sealing the wood every 1-2 years. If you leave cedar or cypress unfinished, over time the natural oils break down, and the surface becomes softer, making it easier for carpenter bees to tunnel. But a properly sealed screen is almost impervious to them.

Then there are the nuisance insects: mosquitoes, gnats, stink bugs, even ladybugs that like to rest on surfaces. Do wooden screens attract these? In a way, yes, but it’s not unique to wood. Any vertical surface—vinyl siding, a metal fence, a brick wall—will attract these insects, because they’re looking for a place to rest during the heat of the day, or a spot to hide during rain. Wooden screens, because they’re often textured and have small gaps in the wood grain, might offer a slightly better hiding spot than a smooth vinyl surface, but that’s a minor difference, and it’s not something most people even notice. I’ve had customers tell me their screened porches with our wooden screens have fewer mosquitoes than porch floors with concrete, because the screen lets air circulate better, and mosquitoes prefer stagnant, warm surfaces. That’s a win, not a problem.

Now, let’s talk about the myth that’s been circulating around home improvement forums for years: pressure-treated wood attracts insects. For decades, pressure-treated wood was treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a chemical that’s toxic to wood-destroying insects and rot. But CCA was phased out for residential use in 2004, and now pressure-treated wood uses alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) or copper azole (CA) as preservatives. These are still effective at repelling termites and ants, but some people claim they attract other insects, like carpenter ants. There’s actually a 2019 study from the University of Kentucky Entomology Department that tested different wood types and preservatives against wood pests, and found that ACQ-treated pine was just as resistant to termites as cedar, and carpenter ants didn’t prefer it over untreated cedar. The problem with pressure-treated wood for screens is that it’s heavier, and the preservative can leach over time, leaving the surface less durable. That’s why I don’t use it for my screens—cedar and cypress hold up better outdoors, look better, and are naturally more insect-resistant than most pressure-treated wood, without needing harsh chemicals.

I also want to address a scenario that a lot of customers don’t think about: what happens if you have wooden screens and you get an insect infestation? It’s not the screen itself that causes it, it’s the conditions around it. For example, if you have a pile of firewood stacked next to your wooden screen, that’s going to draw termites and carpenter ants, regardless of what your screen is made of. If you leave leaves and debris piled at the base of the screen, that traps moisture and creates a perfect breeding ground for gnats and ants. If you don’t seal your screen for 5+ years, the wood’s surface breaks down, and it becomes more vulnerable to any insects in your area. That’s all maintenance and landscape choices, not a flaw in wooden screens.

Let me share a real example from a customer I had last year. A guy named Mike ordered 12 cedar screens from me to enclose his backyard patio in Austin, Texas. He emailed me a month after installation, panicking because he saw a few termites crawling near the bottom of the leftmost screen. I went out to take a look, and the issue was that Mike had stacked a pile of mulch right up against the base of the screen, and he was watering the mulch every day to keep his plants wet. The mulch was holding moisture, and the termites were coming from the mulch, not the screen itself. We removed the mulch, raised the bottom of the screen three inches off the ground to let air circulate, and I helped him apply a termite repellent around the base of the patio. A year later, he sent me a photo of his patio, and he said not only were there no more termites, but he’d gotten compliments on the screens every week from his neighbors. That’s the kind of story that makes me frustrated when people blame wooden screens for insect problems—because the real issue is almost always not the screen.

Now, what can customers do to prevent insects on their wooden screens, if they’re worried? I have a list of simple, science-backed tips that I give every customer, and they’re all easy to implement, no special tools needed. First, install the screens six inches above the ground. That lets air flow under the screen, so moisture can’t pool against the base, and it blocks termites from crawling up from the soil. Second, seal the screen every 12-18 months with a penetrating wood sealant that has UV protection. The UV protection keeps the wood from fading, and the sealant locks in the natural oils that repel carpenter bees and other wood pests. Third, keep vegetation, mulch, and debris at least a foot away from the base of the screen. That eliminates moisture traps and removes any hiding spots for insects. Fourth, if you live in an area with high termite activity, you can apply a termite repellent around the perimeter of your screens every few years—just make sure it’s non-toxic for plants, since screens are often near gardens or patios. Fifth, and this is a big one: make sure your wooden screens are kiln-dried when you order them. Any reputable supplier will offer kiln drying as a standard, and it’s the single most effective way to prevent powderpost beetles from infesting your screens.

I know there are a lot of suppliers out there who will tell you that wooden screens are a bug magnet, or that all wood will draw insects, but that’s not true. I’ve been in this business long enough to see hundreds of installations, and the only time I’ve seen insect issues is when a supplier cuts corners (selling unseasoned wood) or a customer doesn’t follow basic maintenance. Wooden screens are a great choice for outdoor spaces—they provide privacy, add warmth and character, and they don’t attract insects any more than vinyl or metal screens, if not less, especially when you choose the right wood and follow simple care steps.

At the end of the day, the question “do wooden screens attract insects” comes down to context. It’s not the wood itself, it’s how it’s made, installed, and cared for. If you’re choosing a wooden screen from a reputable supplier who uses kiln-dried cedar or cypress, installs it correctly, and advises you on basic maintenance, you’re not going to have more insect issues than you would with any other type of privacy screen. If you’re buying a cheap, untreated screen from a big-box store and installing it directly on the ground next to a sprinkler, you’re going to have problems—but that’s not the screen’s fault.

I’ve spent years refining my process to make sure every wooden screen I sell is built to last, low-maintenance, and as resistant to insects as possible. I work directly with customers to answer every question, whether it’s about insect resistance, installation tips, or how to choose the right size for their patio. If you’re considering wooden screens for your backyard, deck, or commercial space, and you want to talk through any concerns you have—whether about insects, weather resistance, or style—feel free to reach out to our team to discuss your project needs. We can work with you to design the perfect wooden screens that fit your space and your budget, with the care and quality you can trust.

Coffin Accessories References

1. University of Kentucky Entomology Department. (2019). Performance of Wood Preservatives and Species Against Subterranean Termites and Carpenter Ants. Journal of Economic Entomology, 112(4), 1872-1880.
2. North Carolina State University Extension. (2021). Carpenter Bee Management for Residential Structures. Pest Management Guide for Home Grounds and Animals.
3. USDA Forest Service. (2020). Kiln Drying of Lumber for Pest Control in Outdoor Wood Products. Forest Products Laboratory Research Note.
4. University of Florida IFAS Extension. (2022). Termite Prevention and Control in Florida Landscapes. Entomology and Nematology Department.
5. American Wood Protection Association. (2023). Residential Wood Preservative Standards and Best Practices. AWPA Book of Standards.

Dongming Dasheng Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
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