Wood-Boring Beetle Identification & Prevention

Wood-boring beetles are destructive pests that cause damage to the wood they invade. Female wood-boring beetles lay their eggs on a suitable piece of wood, typically wood that has not been seasoned or processed. However, some species do choose to infest seasoned wood. When wood-boring beetle larvae hatch from their eggs, they will burrow into wood, tunneling through it and feeding on it with their strong jaws. After finishing development inside that wood, the larvae pupate and change into adults. These new adults will then create exit holes, emerge from the wood to mate and lay new eggs which will then continue this destructive life cycle when they hatch.

Wood-boring beetles present no serious dangers to humans, but they do pose a significant threat to the properties they invade, particularly wooden structures. Many species of wood-boring beetles live together in large groups in the same area or piece of wood, generation after generation. When this occurs, the tunnels that these beetles create throughout the years have the potential to cause significant damages to the wooden structures that they have invaded.

Wood-destroying beetles often find their way inside homes in pieces of wood that have been brought inside and were previously infested with wood-boring beetle eggs or larvae. The exact type of wood these beetles will infest is species-specific, meaning not every species will target the same thing. Some species prefer hardwoods while others prefer to tunnel into softer wood. Wood-boring beetles can also become problematic inside your home if they are invading the hard or softwood trees on your property as the adults can often find their way inside through cracks and crevices in the foundation and exterior walls of your home while foraging for food.

Wood-boring beetles can be found attacking and invading a variety of things inside homes including sub-flooring, hardwood floors, door and window trim, joists, window sills, and structural beams. Wood-boring beetles can also be found in barn wood, hardwood furniture, and may become particularly problematic inside log houses. Outside, wood boring beetles can attack a variety of hard and softwood trees, tree stumps, and firewood. In addition, they attack fallen trees, limbs, and pieces of rotten wood.

To eliminate wood-boring beetles found on your property or inside your home, it is best to partner with a professional like Aroostook Pest Control. Our dedicated experts will provide the services needed to find and completely eliminate destructive wood-boring beetles.

Here at Aroostook Pest Control, we're committed to only using only the best pest control products on the market to get rid of wood-boring beetles and prevent them from returning through our wood-boring beetle extermination service. To learn more about eliminating wood-boring beetles from your Ellsworth home, contact Aroostook Pest Control!

Preventing problems with wood-boring beetles can be difficult, but there are some things you can do to help deter them. Try the following tips to see how they help:

• Place piles of firewood up off the ground and away from the outside of your home.
• Use seasoned lumber when building inside your home.
• Remove fallen trees, logs, and stumps from your property.
• Wood used inside your home should be treated with paint, stain, or varnish, as most species of wood-boring beetles won’t invade treated wood.
• Before using barn wood, older pieces of wood, or purchasing antique furniture for use within your home, inspect it for small holes created by wood-boring beetles.
• Reduce moisture levels inside your home by using dehumidifiers and ensuring that crawl spaces are properly ventilated.

To learn more about our services and how we can help protect your home from the damages of wood-boring beetles, reach out to us!