Powder Post Beetle
Order: Coleoptera
Scientific Name: Bostrichidae
Appearance: Small brown cylindrical bodies with two pairs of wings and short antennae
Size: 1.5 – 3.17 mm
What is a Powder Post Beetle?
Powder post beetles are wood feeding insects that are often found in the wooden structures of homes. They are most commonly found in crawl spaces where the temperatures are cooler and moisture is higher. Powder post beetles are known to infest both hard and soft woods.
Females will lay their eggs inside wood either in holes or cracks. The young will hatch inside the wood and and tunnel deeper while feeding. It can take the young up to 3 years to fully develop from within their tunnel before they emerge as adults and begin the reproductive process.
Why do I have Powder Post Beetles?
Powder post beetles often go unnoticed as they bore into wooden areas that are not typically inspected on a regular basis. It is common to find powder post beetles in crawl spaces as the wood is unfinished and temperatures are suitable for them to thrive. Like many insects powder post beetles prefer humidity and are often found in areas where moisture contents are above 14%.
How do I get rid of Powder Post Beetles?
Controlling moisture levels will help deter powder post beetle populations. It is recommended to keep you crawl space moisture levels below 15% to help prevent powder post beetles as well as other destructive wood feeding insects.
In the case of an active infestation call your local pest control specialist and they will be able to help remediate powder post beetle infestations and help prevent future beetles from being attracted to the same area. PinPoint’s CL-100 inspection will help locate powder post beetle infestations. Click Here for Details on our CL-100 Inspections.
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