| The Powderpost Beetle gains its name from the | | | | only burrow into untreated wood, and any type of |
| finely chewed particles it produces while burrowing | | | | paint, stain, varnish, or sealant will effectively be left |
| through wood. The remains will be so fine they will | | | | untouched. However, if that piece of lumber was not |
| resemble a white powder similar to flour, and this is | | | | properly stored while drying out it could possibly |
| normally the only indication that the homeowner will | | | | already have the species inside of it. Once the adult |
| receive to identify the species since the majority of | | | | beetle emerges it will not lay eggs on a treated |
| its lifespan is spent within hardwoods and digging its | | | | surface but it will instead place eggs back inside the |
| way towards the surface. Not long after emerging | | | | wood before departing. The most common |
| from its one to four year journey from within your | | | | Powderpost Beetle infestations occur when |
| home the Powderpost Beetle will die of natural | | | | purchasing furniture that contains the species inside |
| causes, leaving only a small pinhole and some fine | | | | of it or within lumber purchased to construct the |
| dust to announce that it had ever existed at all. | | | | home itself. The only reliable way to detect their |
| This species is unlikely to receive sympathy from | | | | presence is to inspect the wood and notice the |
| humans though, because from birth their only goal in | | | | burrowed circular holes, then to inspect the powdery |
| life is to destroy wood. Their lifecycle begins as a | | | | remains to see if the species is active inside it. |
| small larva that was abandoned before birth. There | | | | A number of pesticides are available to control the |
| was no food left for them and no sibling to show | | | | Powderpost Beetle, but the best prevention is to |
| them the ropes, but luckily for the Powderpost | | | | thoroughly inspect any wood materials before |
| Beetle they were born within a wooden structure of | | | | introducing them to your home. It is also interesting |
| some type and that is all they truly need to survive. | | | | to know that this species vastly prefers hardwoods |
| The larvae will begin to burrow into the wood digging | | | | so softer cuts wood such as Pine and Douglas-Fir are |
| through tiny bits at a time, and all the while the rest | | | | normally not colonized. This species often dies off |
| of the world has absolutely no idea that it even | | | | due to natural causes so before investing money |
| exists at all. As they progress through their | | | | replacing boards or spraying dangerous chemicals it is |
| painstaking dig the beetle will continue to grow and | | | | important to verify that the colony is still active. The |
| eventually reach adulthood, and shortly thereafter it | | | | only way to do this is to study the powder from |
| will emerge from its wooden home and face the | | | | within the hole; if it is dried or has other debris on it |
| environment for the first time. It will then lay eggs | | | | then the beetles are already gone. A professional can |
| either on top of the wooden structure or deep within | | | | help you better determine if Powderpost Beetles are |
| it; and not too long after a new generation will begin | | | | present within your home, and also offer multiple |
| the entire pattern. | | | | ways to eliminate the species. |
| An interesting note is that Powderpost Beetles will | | | | |