Powderpost Beetle

As in the picture above, many powderpost beetles have a fairly "stereotypically beetle" look about them. They are small, growing to be less than an inch in length and range in color from reddish-brown to black. They have six legs, two antennae, and hard wing covers. Powderpost beetles are strong fliers, which helps them to infest larger areas in a shorter period of time.

 

Powderpost beetles is actually a term that refers to a few different varieties of wood-boring beetles. The main three in Virginia are Lyctid beetles, Bostricid Beetles, and Anobiid Beetles. There are differences among the species, though the general description remains the same. One important difference, however, is that some species of these beetles prefer hardwood and some prefer softwood, changing the most likely location for them to be found.

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Powderpost beetles are incredibly destructive, second only to termites. They will lay eggs on or in the wood, the larvae will feed on the wood and tunnel into it. As adults, they will bore into the wood and repeat the process.

When present in a home, these pests will be commonly found in hardwood floors, furniture, and the structural wooden parts of your home. Once they have been boring into the wood, creating empty tunnels throughout, the pieces become structurally unsound. This could happen to joists, support beams, furniture, flooring, subflooring, or just about any other wooden surface in your home. Powderpost beetles are attracted to humidity, so crawl spaces, basements, outdoor sheds, and decks are common infestation locations. Repair or replacement can be significantly costly.