To have your property invaded by wood boring insects, especially wood-boring beetles, is not something you want to deal with. These pests are responsible for structural damage that can cost you a lot of money in terms of repairs.
The wood beetle larvae and adult wood boring beetles tunnel through different types of wood, weaken its structure and ruin its appearance by creating holes in it. If you suspect wood-boring insect activity in and around your property, take action as fast as possible by contacting exterminators who are experts at wood-boring insect treatment and prevention.
Wood Boring Beetle Damage and Infestation in Your Home
Wood boring beetles can cause severe damage to the home and propet Here are the signs of wood boring beetles how you can detect a wood boring beetle infestation in your home:
- Wood boring beetles leave behind minute holes when they emerge from the wood. So look for signs of small holes if you think you have an infestation at hand.
- These pests also leave behind a powdery trail of wood fragments and excrements called frass, which might pile near holes or structural cracks of the wooden surfaces of your home.
- If you have stained wood pieces or blistered wood surfaces, it may be caused by wood beetle larvae tunnelling below the wood surface.
- You might hear audible rasping or ticking sounds made by the larvae chewing on wood.
Types of Wood Boring Beetles
Wood boring beetles are of different types and may vary in size, the amount of damage they cause, and their wood preference. You can manage the infestations if you know what sort of wood boring beetle you are dealing with. Here are the types of wood borer beetles that you should be aware of:
- Powderpost beetles The larvae of these beetles leave a trail of fine, powdered frass after burrowing through the wood. They have an affinity for mahogany, walnut, and oak, which might be used in window frames, flooring, furniture, door frames, and wood paneling. Adult beetles are reddish-brown to black in color and have forward projecting heads.
- Deathwatch beetles These beetles infest moist, softwood, which means if you don’t have central heating and your property has a humid environment, you’re going to have a problem with this pest. The frass trail that these beetles leave behind is coarser than that of powderpost beetles. The holes created by these beetles in wood are of a different size, which will help the exterminator understand what sort of pest problem you have on hand. They are called ‘deathwatch beetles’ because they tap their heads against the wood to communicate as they burrow in, which might also alert the homeowners. The adults are greyish-brown in color.
- False Powderpost beetles These wood beetles infest hardwood and softwood and are generally identified by the very coarse frass they leave behind. These beetles infest wooden floors, furniture, but also soft metals to deposit their eggs. They’re also known to infest wine-soaked oak that might be used in wine barrels. Adult false powderpost beetles are extremely tiny and measure about only 1/4th of an inch, and have a downward projecting head.
- Roundheaded beetles Roundheaded beetles have an affinity towards trees that are weak or dying. Adults can vary in size from extremely small, ¼ inches to 2 ½ inches in length, and have a distinctive long antenna.
- Flathead beetles Flathead beetles are long, oval-shaped pests with a metallic sheen on their bodies that make them easily identifiable. Flathead and roundhead beetles don’t pose much of a risk to homeowners as they are forest insects that prefer to burrow in recently cut wood. Wood boring beetles are not the only pests out there that can cause structural damage. Wood boring insects like carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and wood wasps can also cause damage to your property.
How to Prevent Wood Boring Beetles
Preventing wood borer beetles can save you a lot of money, heartache, and time spent on repairing your furniture. In case your home or office is already infested hire pest control service providers. Here are a few ways to prevent wood boring beetles:
- Select the right lumber from the start If you’re building a construction project from scratch, then make sure the lumber you select is devoid of any damage from wood boring beetles. Check the wood for little holes or frass. It is also a good idea to inspect firewood and keep it outside the house until you’re going to use it so that the wood borer beetles don’t accidentally make their way inside your home.
- Seal all wood surfaces To prevent these pests from laying their eggs on the surface or inside the wood, you can use paint, polyurethane, or varnish as a protectant to seal any exposed layer of wood.
- Keep moisture levels down These beetles feed on wood that has a certain amount of moisture. So, if you can make sure you can control the humidity levels in your home, you can lessen the chances of a wood boring beetle infestation.
You need to remember that since most damage occurs beneath the surface, you may need an expert to determine if you have a wood boring infestation at hand. Eliminate wood-boring insects from your home or business before they destroy its structural integrity.
Call Take Care Termite’s wood boring beetle specialists before these pests cause any damage to your property!
- Wood boring beetles leave behind minute holes when they emerge from the wood. So look for signs of small holes if you think you have an infestation at hand.
- These pests also leave behind a powdery trail of wood fragments and excrements called frass, which might pile near holes or structural cracks of the wooden surfaces of your home.
- If you have stained wood pieces or blistered wood surfaces, it may be caused by wood beetle larvae tunnelling below the wood surface.
- You might hear audible rasping or ticking sounds made by the larvae chewing on wood.
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- Powderpost beetles
- Deathwatch beetles
- False Powderpost beetles
- Roundheaded beetles
- Flathead beetles
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- Select the right lumber from the start
- Seal all wood surfaces
- Keep moisture levels down
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