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Wood Destroying Insects

- Insects cause damage in a variety of ways -

Summary: Insects can damage wood and other building materials in many different ways. Termites, carpenter ants and several "powderpost" beetles are the most important wood destroying insects overall. See the reference table below for a list of the major, and some minor, wood-damaging pests.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)

Insects that damage wood

Fortunately, relatively few insects actually damage sound wood. Termites, both subterranean termites, drywood termites, carpenter ants and certain powderpost beetles are the primary wood destroying insects, and dry-rot fungi are the primary decay organisms. The potential for damage from any of these pests varies by region and climate with more damage in warm, wet climates and generally less in cool, dry climates.

Damage potential in a particular region varies by insect group as well. Termites, for example, tend to be of more concern in warm climates whereas carpenter ants tend to be more important in cooler climates. Wood-boring powderpost beetles damage structural wood mostly in damp/coastal climates. Powderpost beetles can, however, damage hardwoods, like flooring and furniture, in any climate.


There are also a number of minor wood damaging insects that may do significant cosmetic damage but rarely impact wood's structural integrity. The table below lists all these insects and their potential for damage.


Characteristics of wood-damaging insects

The Wood Damaging Insects table (see image at right) lists the key characteristics of the major and minor insect pests of both softwoods and hardwoods.

The table is downloadable as a pdf file so you'll need Acrobat Reader or equivalent to open it. This version is modified from a similar table published in 1979 by Harry B. Moore in a bulletin titled Wood-Inhabiting Insects in Houses, USDA, FS and HUD.

Click the image above to download the table.


DIY Pest Control Supplies

Most wood damage from insects and rot can be prevented with relatively low toxicity insecticides and/or pest-targeted baits. Use the following links for supplies and how-to instructions. See our Insect Id Service for bug identification or control recommendations tailored to your situation.

Still have questions about wood-destroying pests or need a bug id? ... Click Here


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Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD,  , email:  [email protected]

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