WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

Powderpost beetles can cause significant damage to wooden structures and furniture. These beetles are reddish-brown to black and have a distinctive body shape. Their larvae are white, C-shaped grubs, and cause damage by making round tunnels that are loosely packed with very fine frass, which is where the name “powderpost” comes from. The larvae make these tunnels, and this is usually the result of several generations of beetles in the same wood. When adults leave the wood, it is left with many small round holes that are 0.03 to 0.13 inches (0.8 to 3.2 mm) in diameter. The adults leave to search for a new wood source.

Powderpost beetles usually attack only seasoned or partly seasoned sapwood of hardwoods such as ash, oak, pecan, and hickory, but they will also attack bamboo, cherry, elm, persimmon, walnut, and many others. They can attack wood with a moisture content between 6-30%. Most wood within centrally heated and cooled buildings contains enough moisture for a lyctid attack. They will re-infest the same wood repeatedly until it is virtually useless, and they may spread to other hardwoods nearby. 

If you suspect a powderpost beetle infestation, it’s essential to contact a pest control professional to develop an effective treatment plan. Don’t hesitate to take action to protect your wooden structures and furniture from these damaging pests.

Reference: https://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/urban-pests/lyctid/