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Powderpost Beetle
Infestations
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Typical infestations of wood boring beetles -
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Summary: Wood boring powderpost
beetle infestations occur in both softwoods and
hardwoods. Softwood infestations typically occur in
structural wood like beams and joists while
hardwood infestations occur in flooring, furniture
and cabinets.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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Beetle infestations in
softwood and hardwood
Powderpost beetles,sometimes
called woodworms, are wood boring beetles that
infest both softwoods
like pine, fir, spruce and hardwoods
like oak, maple, and ash. Unlike most other insects
that damage wood (see Wood
Destroying Insects), powderpost beetles have
the potential to start a cycle of infestation
that may last many years and do significant damage
to the wood they infest.
Infestations of these
beetles can have serious economic impact.
Significant damage to hardwood flooring and
cabinets can occur as well as weakening of
structural timbers like posts, floor
joists, subfloors, and other framing
materials. Suspect infestations can also
interfere with real estate transactions even if the
beetles are no longer active.
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Lyctid powderpost
beetle emergence holes in the face
frame of a kitchen cabinet (look carefully
below the shadow).
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Some examples of
powderpost beetle infestations
Infestations usually
come in one of two varieties: infestations in
softwood structural timbers like floor joists,
posts, beams, or, infestations of decorative
hardwood such as flooring or cabinets. The following
examples illustrate the range of typical situations.
(1)
Beetle infestations in softwood structural wood
Pest
scenario: During a pest and dry-rot
inspection of a newly renovated house powderpost
beetle emergence holes and fresh boring dust are
found in some structural timbers in the crawl
space under the house. The home inspector reports
this to the potential buyers who promptly pull
out of the transaction. The home's owners
want to know if the infestation is active and how
to treat it so they can get the house back on the
market.
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Answer:
Structural wood can be treated with a borate-based
wood preservative such as Bora-Care that will
prevent re-infestation (see Related Articles
below).
(2)
Beetle infestation in hardwood cabinets
Pest
scenario: A cabinet maker is faced with replacing
the kitchen cabinets in 40 apartments because the
wood frames made of the hardwood poplar show the
characteristic signs of a powderpost beetle
infestation (emergence holes and powder or boring
dust, see image above). The primary concern is
"will emerging beetles be a threat to other wood
in the apartments?"
Answer:
Generally other hardwoods will not be attractive to
emerging beetles if they are varnished or painted.
New, unfinished wood can become infested however
(see Related Articles below).
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(3)
Beetle infestation in hardwood flooring
Pest
scenario: Hardwood flooring is sometimes infested
with lyctid powderpost beetles that begin
to emerge after the flooring is installed.
Emerging beetles leave behind holes and "frass"
(boring dust made of fine wood fragments).
Concerns range from "do the beetles pose a threat
to other wood in the home?" (see answer to
(2)) to "when did the wood become infested and
therefore who is legally responsible?" and, "how
much damage will eventually occur?".
Answer: This
situation is complex. It largely depends on when the
floor was installed and the rate of beetle
emergence. Often the infestation began at the
manufacturing plant even if the stock wood was
kiln-dried (see Related Articles below).
What are
Powderpost Beetles?
Powderpost Beetle
Control & Prevention
Powderpost Beetle
Damage in Hardwood Flooring & Furniture
Using Bora-Care
& Shell-Guard Wood Preservatives
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Jack DeAngelis,
Ph.D.
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