Powder Post Beetles

Powder-post beetles are destructive pests of wooden structures, furnishings, and even musical instruments. Although less common than termites, these tiny insects (less than 1/8" in length) can cause serious damage as they reduce wooden timbers to little more than sawdust.

There are several species of powder-post beetles. The one pictured on the left is a Lyctid beetle. Collectively, powder post beetles get their common name from their habit of consuming wood from the inside out. The adults lay their eggs on or in the wood, and the larvae consume the wood from inside. Over time, the wood becomes little more than an empty skin filled with sawdust. Hence the name, powder-post beetle.

Powder-Post Beetle Damage

	Powder-post beetles are stealthy creatures: To the untrained eye, a seriously infested wooden beam may look perfectly sound, perhaps even to the very day that it crumbles under the weight of the house it is supporting. The timber shown at the left looks perfectly sound, until you look closely. See the tiny streams of sawdust coming from the holes? That's a pretty good indication that this timber is infested.
	Here's another example. Note the little trails of sawdust coming from the holes in the floor joist on the left. To the untrained eye, this joist may look perfectly sound. But it is infested. If left untreated, the beetles will consume the wood from the inside out, leaving little more than an empty skin. That's why it's important to have your home periodically inspected by a qualified pest control operator
	Over time, powder-post beetles can destroy the wooden members of a house, resulting in the need for many thousands of dollars in repairs. The damage in the picture to the left is to the sill plate of a home. The sill plate is the part of the house that sits atop the foundation, and upon which the rest of the house is built. Notice how the weight of the floor joist is crushing the sill plate, causing a noticeable depression in the wood.

Powder-Post Beetle Control

The control of powder-post beetles varies with the specie, and the severity and location of the infestation. Each job is unique. For a professional inspection and estimate, contact Economy Pest Control in the Greater Boston area.