Wood-boring beetles are beetles that damage wood in homes. The damage can vary depending on the age of the home, the type of beetle and the environmental conditions. Homeowners use a variety of control methods to eradicate wood-boring beetles.
Adult wood-boring beetles lay their eggs on wooden surfaces. The eggs hatch into creamy-white grubs with dark-colored mandibles. The larvae burrow below the surface and feed on the wood, creating tunnels as they eat. After pupating and becoming adults, the beetles create exit holes to the outside. Once they have exited, they mate and begin the process all over again.
Several types of wood-boring beetles attack construction wood. Old house borer beetles, also known as long-horned beetles, prefer spruce, pine and hemlock. They have flattened brownish-black or black bodies and are 0.625-1.0 inches (16-25 mm) in length.
Powderpost beetles have elongated, dark-colored bodies and grow 0.125-0.25 inches (3-7 mm) long. Their larvae feed on hardwood species such as ash, walnut and oak, but they also enjoy bamboo. Powderpost beetles leave a dust-like or powdery mixture of insect excrement and sawdust inside galleries and outside exit holes.
False powderpost beetles have dark brown or black bodies and are 0.125-0.25 inches (3-7 mm), depending on the species. They attack species such as cherry, oak and walnut. Metallic wood-boring beetles have dark, shiny bodies and are 0.25-1.0 inches (7-25 mm) in length. They create vast networks of tunnels inside hardwood, softwood and unseasoned wood.
Deathwatch beetles are 0.125-0.25 inches (3-7 mm) long. They have reddish-brown or dark-brown bodies. They tap their heads against hard surfaces when they are trying to find mates. Deathwatch beetles prefer moisture levels of more than 14 percent.
Homeowners can prevent wood-boring beetle infestations by sealing wood with a protective coating of varnish or polyurethane. They can remove and replace individual boards or kill beetles that are in small wooden items by either freezing or heating the wood. They can also perform spot treatments with insecticides.
Severe or whole-house infestations usually require the services of a certified pest-control agent, who will fumigate the house for wood-boring beetles using substances such as sulfuryl fluoride. He or she might also be able to perform fumigations on individual items by placing them inside a specialized fumigation chamber. These services are expensive, however, and cannot guarantee that the beetles won’t return.