Powderpost Beetles Leave Holes in Wood.
Heres What you might Do to Control Them.
If you are noticing piles of fine powder, this could definitely be cause for concern.
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As adults, they chew out of the wood and emerge through small round exit holes.
Here youll learn how to identify powderpost beetles and get rid of them.
Beetle Terminology: Frass and Exit Holes
What Do Powderpost Beetles Look Like?
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True Powderpost Beetles (Lyctinae)
True powderpost beetles can have a more elongated appearance.
If you look down on their back from above, you could see their head and eyes.
False powderpost beetles have a hump-backed appearance.
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If you look down on their backs from above, you cannot see their head and eyes easily.
Deathwatch beetles typically range in size from 1/8 to 1/4 inch and are reddish to dark brown.
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What Causes Powderpost Beetles?
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They are commonly brought into homes via building materials, wood furniture, or firewood.
They deposit their eggs in the pores of wood where they will be protected.
False Powderpost Beetles
Adult female false powderpost beetle behavior differs from that of other powderpost beetles.
They burrow into the wood instead of laying eggs on the surface or looking for cracks.
This is how they have earned alternative names such as the leadcable borer or cask borer.
Itcouldbe powderpost beetles, and itcouldbe an active issue, but it could also be old and inactive.
This will help determine what treatment is required.
Always check wood around the infested wood for holes, as well.
Infested wood can be burned or taken to a dump.
Try a Temperature Treatment
Both hot and cold temperatures will kill off powderpost beetles.
Items can also be frozen in a deep freezer for a minimum of three days at 0F.
Sanitation is key in preventing a powderpost beetle issue.
Be sure to shop around and find an Integrated Pest Management Specialist if you need professional pest help.
Improper treatments can cause environmental and health risks, as well as damage to your property.
Vinegar does not kill the beetles, it won’t penetrate their shells.
It can also damage the wood you are trying to treat.
Powderpost Beetles.University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
