Powderpost Beetles – What are they?

During inspections it is quite common to see evidence of wood destroying beetles many times referred to as powderpost beetles. Two of the most common powderpost beetles to be encountered are the Lyctid beetle and the Anobiid beetle. Think about this for a second. Have you ever seen small round holes in any wood under a home or in wood furniture? Those holes were quite possibly evidence of a previous or present beetle problem. The holes produced look like small buckshot holes. If there is a present infestation, it is likely that there will also be accumulated sawdust the consistency of baby power around or falling out of the exit holes. The dust is produced when adult beetles chew their way out of the wood after going through their metamorphosis. The life cycle of the beetle may take 1-5 years depending on certain variables. Powderpost beetles do not eat wood for its cellulose content like a termite does, but instead they are more interested in the starch content of the wood. 

• Lyctid powderpost beetles attack hardwoods like oak, ash, walnut and hickory. These beetles may develop in paneling, molding, door frames and furniture. Lyctids rarely infest wood older than 5 years old. In most cases if wood is affected, the reason may be that wood was improperly stored or dried.
• Anobiid powderpost beetles are the ones that are more likely to be in pine or other softwoods. The anobiid can attack hardwoods, but their favorite is pine. These beetles will also often get into beech, maple and even poplar when conditions are ideal such as damp crawl areas where the wood moisture content is 10-20 % and the area is poorly ventilated. Wood decay is produced at a moisture level of 20% or greater.

Don’t let powderpost beetles get established in your home! Inspections by a qualified inspector may save you from dealing with damage later. Be pro-active to know the truth. The best time to deal with your beetle infestation is not when the homeowner is in the middle of negotiations in buying or selling a home, but right now so you can prevent any damage if powderpost beetles are found.