Another reason to avoid ethanol laced fuel

[thataway]

Here we are faced with mandates to increase the amount of Ethanol in "Gasoline" fuels, and there is an article in the most recent Boat US about "Camphor shoot borers". It turns out these are attracted to ethanol, in the fuel, and eat holes in plastic fuel cans!

Here is a quote from a Florida Pest Control Website:

Camphor Shot borers are a type of ambrosia beetle. These beetles normally attack stressed out trees, and not gasoline cans. So what does a stressed out tree have in common with a gas can, you might be thinking? Ethanol. Trees emit chemicals when they become stressed or are injured. This triggers beetles and other pests to attack the tree. In the case of the Camphor Shot borer, they seem to be mostly attracted to alcohols. Much of the unleaded gas we have contains an alcohol called ethanol. The beetle can't tell the alcohol in the gas can from chemicals emitted by a tree, so they dig on in!

These beetles are usually most active in the months of March through June, so what can you do in the meantime to protect your gas cans from them? Basically, you will need to place the cans inside, or cover them with something to impede the beetles' attack. These beetles feed on a large range of trees, so chemical treatments are not advised.

The Boat US article cites that it can bore holes in fuel lines as well as plastic fuel tanks. So far it is mostly in Florida, up to North Carolina, and as far west as Texas...but we all know about those invasive species and their spread. I don't know of any boat explosions or issues thus far--but Boat US is tracking the issue.