PEST SOLUTION: WOOD DESTROYING BEETLES Guardian Pest Control Powder Post Beetles and other Wood Destroying Beetles Management
Importance
The damage of powder post beetles and other wood destroying beetles ranges from unattractive holes in the wood surfaces to a significant destruction in the structural wood quality. They attack exposed and unfinished wood and produce fine and like talc powders as well as they make small holes as the adult beetles chew their way out through the wood structures. In the USA, the subfamily Lyctinae (the true powder post beetles) from the family Bostrichidae is considered the second in importance to termites as wood destroying insects. During late winter/early spring, the adults tend to gather around windows and lighted areas.
Lifecycle In the spring, adults emerge, mate and then females lay eggs in holes, cracks and crevices or previous adult’s exit holes on unfinished wood. Larvae are the most damaging stage. They tunnel inside the wood and their developmental period last for three months and up to 15 years depending on the species, temperature, starch, sugars, proteins and moisture contents of the wood. When they are fully grown and at favored conditions, they pupate and finally emerge as adults leaving fine powdery wood materials around the edges of the exit holes. The shape and size of the adult’s exit holes and the sawdust materials depend on the pest species.
Customer's Responsibility
Prevention
Please follow the following steps to prevent beetle infestation.
In your constructions, don’t use infested wood materials, but instead use treated wood with long lasting insecticides or wood preservatives.
To prevent adults from laying eggs, sand and seal cracks, crevices and holes in the wood surfaces and then brush on a wood preservative (paint, water repellent stains, varnish and wax).
Use building with good ventilation, drainage and clearance between wood and soil.
Use proper furnace, air-dried wood, central heating and cooling systems to accelerate the wood drying process and reduce moisture content to below 8%.
Install a moisture barrier or increase ventilation especially in the crawl space of infested buildings.
Heat and Cold Management
Heating at 120-140°F (49-60°C) for 6 hours kills all life stages of powder post beetles. And 190°F (88°C) kills old borer larvae.
Freezing at 0°F (-18°C) for 72 hours or more of the wood thicker than 2 inch may kill powder post beetles.
Guardian's Services
Guardian will send a pest control specialist to do a thorough inspection for powder post beetles and other wood destroying beetle infestations.
A proper pest management protocol will be conducted by Guardian Pest Control specialist with customer’s agreement.
In case a pesticide option is used, two follow ups will be conducted after the initial application at three to four weeks interval or as needed. Guardian Pest Control specialist will coordinate with customers to allocate a proper time for doing these follow ups.
Post Treatment Information
Some pesticide products leave white materials after it dries, allow 48-72 hours past treatment before cleaning. This can easily be removed with warm water and a mild soap solution (DO NOT use window cleaners).
The pesticide will stop the development of the chewing larvae quickly and prevent later infestation but adults may be still seen for a while until all developing pupa have hatched.
Infested finished wood must be stripped before treatment and re-coated afterward.
Two follow up treatments is necessary at three to four weeks intervals.
Precautionary measures during and after treatment should be followed as descried on the label. Guardian Pest Control specialist will make sure to describe these measures to the customers.
In the spring, adults emerge, mate and then females lay eggs in holes, cracks and crevices or previous adult’s exit holes on unfinished wood. Larvae are the most damaging stage. They tunnel inside the wood and their developmental period last for three months and up to 15 years depending on the species, temperature, starch, sugars, proteins and moisture contents of the wood. When they are fully grown and at favored conditions, they pupate and finally emerge as adults leaving fine powdery wood materials around the edges of the exit holes. The shape and size of the adult’s exit holes and the sawdust materials depend on the pest species. 