Each group contains several species capable of damaging wood materials. The three most destructive groups of powderpost beetles are the lyctids, anobiids, and bostrichids. 1: Powderpost beetles produce small round holes accompanied by wood powder. Occasionally, the beetles may be found near damaged wood, or on windowsills since some are attracted to light.įig. Customers are more likely to see damage, rather than the beetles themselves, because the adults are cryptic and active mainly at night. The eggs hatch into tiny larvae that bore into the wood, emerging as adults one to five years later, usually during late winter, spring or summer depending upon species. Newly emerged adults mate and lay eggs on or below the surface of bare, unfinished wood. These are exit holes where adult beetles have chewed out of the wood after completing their development. Infestations typically are discovered after noticing powder, accompanied by small, round “shot holes” in the wood surface. Tunneling and larval development take place entirely below the wood surface. The developing grub-like larvae inflict damage as they create narrow, meandering tunnels in wood as they feed. “Powderpost beetle” is a term used to describe several species of small (1/8-3/4 inch long) insects that reduce wood to a flour-like powder (Figure 1). This publication explains how to make those determinations. As a result, the pests may cause considerable confusion for homeowners, wood suppliers, manufacturers, builders, and even pest control companies. Mistakes also are made in determining whether the infestation is active, and if so, how it should be managed. And yet, customers often receive conflicting opinions about whether the insects and/or damage they are seeing is indeed due to powderpost beetles. Powderpost beetles are second only to termites in their ability to damage dry, seasoned wood. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture ENTFACT-616: Powderpost Beetles | Download PDF by Michael F.
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