Woodboring Beetles: Chewing Up Your Home? 

Woodboring beetles, those silent saboteurs, can cause serious structural damage to your home before you even know they’re there. Their burrowing can weaken beams, floors, and furniture, leading to costly repairs.

But what if you hear tell-tale tapping or see mysterious sawdust piles? Early detection is key! Our skilled technicians can identify the type of woodboring beetle and recommend the most effective treatment plan to eliminate the infestation and save your precious woodwork.

Stop woodboring beetles in their tracks! For a guaranteed solution and to safeguard your home, contact us today for a free inspection and quote. Let us help you keep your home structurally sound!

Evidence of beetle exit holes! Tiny, round holes in your wood? Those could be beetle exit holes! Learn to identify these signs of a potential wood-boring beetle infestation and protect your home from damage.

 

Powder Post Beetles are small, wood-boring insects that infest and damage wood by tunneling through it to lay their eggs. The larvae then feed on the wood, creating fine, powdery sawdust as they grow.

What to Do if You Continue to See the Pest

  1. Identify and Remove Infested Wood: Inspect your home for signs of infestation, such as small holes and fine sawdust. Remove and replace any infested wood.
  2. Apply Borate Treatment: Treat the affected and surrounding areas with borate-based products like Tim-bor®. This will kill the beetles and prevent future infestations.
  3. Control Humidity: Keep the humidity levels in your home low, as high humidity can attract these beetles. Use dehumidifiers and ensure proper ventilation.
  4. Regular Inspections: Let us conduct regular inspections of your home, especially in areas prone to moisture, to catch any new infestations early.

Behavioral Patterns

  • Larval Stage: The larvae are the most destructive stage, tunneling through wood and causing significant damage.
  • Adult Stage: Adult beetles emerge from the wood, mate, and lay eggs on or near the surface of the wood.
  • Attracted to Moist Wood: They are particularly attracted to wood with high moisture content, so keeping wood dry is crucial in preventing infestations.
  • Nocturnal Activity: Powder Post Beetles are more active at night, which is when you might notice them flying around lights.

By understanding these patterns and taking proactive measures, you can effectively manage and prevent Powder Post Beetle infestations in your home. If the problem persists, contact us.

Lyctid Beetles

Lyctid beetles, also known as “furniture beetles,” are small, brown beetles that infest wood. They are often found in stored wood products, such as lumber and furniture. Adult beetles are typically less than half an inch long and have a cylindrical shape. Larvae are white grubs that burrow through wood.

What to do if you continue to see the pest?

If you continue to see lyctid beetles or evidence of their activity (e.g., small exit holes in wood, frass), it’s important to take action. Here are some steps you can take:

  1. Contact us: We can assess the extent of the infestation and recommend appropriate treatment methods.
  2. Inspect your property thoroughly. Look for signs of damage, such as sagging floors, ceilings, or walls.
  3. Remove any infested wood. This may involve replacing structural members or portions of your home.
  4. Treat the remaining wood. Professional pest control companies can use chemical treatments or heat treatments to kill any remaining larvae and prevent future infestations.

What are the behavioral patterns?

Lyctid beetles have a specific life cycle that influences their behavior:

  • Adult beetles: Adults emerge from their pupal chambers in late spring or early summer. They are flightless but can crawl to new locations.
  • Egg-laying: Female beetles lay eggs in cracks and crevices in wood.
  • Larval development: Larvae hatch from the eggs and begin to burrow through the wood. They feed on the wood fibers and create tunnels.
  • Pupation: After several years of feeding, larvae pupate in their tunnels.
  • Emergence of adults: Adult beetles emerge from their pupal chambers and the cycle begins anew.

Lyctid beetles are often associated with a powdery substance, which is actually frass (excrement) that the larvae produce. This frass can accumulate around exit holes and can cause damage to wood finishes.

Bostrichid Beetles

Bostrichid beetles, also known as “powderpost beetles,” are small, brown beetles that infest wood. They are often found in stored wood products, such as lumber and furniture. Adult beetles are typically less than half an inch long and have a cylindrical shape. Larvae are white grubs that burrow through wood.

What to do if you continue to see the pest?

If you continue to see bostrichid beetles or evidence of their activity (e.g., small exit holes in wood, frass), it’s important to take action. Here are some steps you can take:

  1. Contact us. We can assess the extent of the infestation and recommend appropriate treatment methods.
  2. Inspect your property thoroughly. Look for signs of damage, such as sagging floors, ceilings, or walls.
  3. Remove any infested wood. This may involve replacing structural members or portions of your home.
  4. Treat the remaining wood. Professional pest control companies can use chemical or heat treatments to kill any remaining larvae and prevent future infestations.

What are behavioral patterns?

Bostrichid beetles have a specific life cycle that influences their behavior:

  • Adult beetles: Adults emerge from their pupal chambers in late spring or early summer. They are flightless but can crawl to new locations.
  • Egg-laying: Female beetles lay eggs in cracks and crevices in wood.
  • Larval development: Larvae hatch from the eggs and begin to burrow through the wood. They feed on the wood fibers and create tunnels.
  • Pupation: After several years of feeding, larvae pupate in their tunnels.
  • Emergence of adults: Adult beetles emerge from their pupal chambers and the cycle begins anew.

Bostrichid beetles are often associated with a powdery substance, which is frass (excrement) that the larvae produce. This frass can accumulate around exit holes and can cause damage to wood finishes.

Anobiid Beetles

Anobiid beetles, also known as “death watch beetles,” are small, brown beetles that infest wood. They are often found in old, dry wood, such as that used in historic buildings. Adult beetles are typically less than half an inch long and have a humped back. Larvae are white grubs that burrow through wood.

What to do if you continue to see the pest?

If you continue to see anobiid beetles or evidence of their activity (e.g., small exit holes in wood, frass), it’s important to take action. Here are some steps you can take:

  1. Contact us. We can assess the extent of the infestation and recommend appropriate treatment methods.
  2. Inspect your property thoroughly. Look for signs of damage, such as sagging floors, ceilings, or walls.
  3. Remove any infested wood. This may involve replacing structural members or portions of your home.
  4. Treat the remaining wood. Professional pest control companies can use chemical treatments or heat treatments to kill any remaining larvae and prevent future infestations.

What are the Behavioral patterns?

Anobiid beetles have a specific life cycle that influences their behavior:

  • Adult beetles: Adults emerge from their pupal chambers in late spring or early summer. They are flightless but can crawl to new locations.
  • Egg-laying: Female beetles lay eggs in cracks and crevices in wood.
  • Larval development: Larvae hatch from the eggs and begin to burrow through the wood. They feed on the wood fibers and create tunnels.
  • Pupation: After several years of feeding, larvae pupate in their tunnels.
  • Emergence of adults: Adult beetles emerge from their pupal chambers and the cycle begins anew.

Anobiid beetles are often associated with a ticking sound, which is caused by the larvae knocking their heads against the walls of their tunnels. This sound is sometimes mistaken for a death watch.

Old House Borer Beetles

The old house borer beetle (*Hylotrupes bajulus*) is a wood-boring insect that primarily infests softwoods like pine, spruce, and fir. These beetles are black or gray, measuring between 5/8 to 1 inch in length, with fine gray hairs on their thoraxes and patches of gray hair on their wing covers¹². They are known for their long antennae and the distinctive rasping or clicking sound they make while chewing through wood.

What to do if you continue to see the pest?
If you continue to see old house borer beetles, it’s crucial to take action to prevent further damage:

  • Contact us: We can assess the extent of the infestation and recommend appropriate treatment methods.
  • Inspect your property thoroughly. Look for signs of damage, such as sagging floors, ceilings, or walls.
  • Remove any infested wood. This may involve replacing structural members or portions of your home.
  • Treat the remaining wood. Professional pest control companies can use chemical or heat treatments to kill any remaining larvae and prevent future infestations.

What are the behavioral patterns?
Old house borer beetles exhibit the following behavioral patterns:

  • Life Cycle: The larvae can remain in the wood for 3 to 15 years, feeding and creating tunnels. Adults emerge mainly during the summer months, particularly from June to August.
  • Feeding Habits: The larvae bore through wood, preferring the protein-rich sapwood of younger wood. They do not infest hardwoods like oak or maple.
  • Sound: The larvae produce a rasping or clicking sound while chewing, which can be heard in quiet environments⁴.
  • Reinfestation: Adults often reinfest wood near where it emerged, making it essential to promptly treat and replace infested wood.

Add Comment

to top