Like anobiid beetles, the segment just behind the head conceals the head from above. The adults range in color from reddish brown to black. Bostrichid Powderpost Beetlesĭescription: Bostrichid beetles are sometimes referred to as “false” or “large” powderpost beetles, bamboo borers, or even lead-cable borers. Most anobiid beetles take 2 to 3 years to complete their development. Though the females fly well and can lay eggs at new locations, they are most likely to lay their eggs on the board from which they emerged. The male and female emerge together and mate, and the female deposits her eggs. When the larvae change into adults, they chew round exit holes between 1/16 to 1/8 inch in diameter. Like lyctid beetles, the small anobiid larvae bore into the wood, where they eat and develop. Anobiids are the most common beetles infesting crawl spaces.įemale anobiid beetles usually lay fewer than fifty eggs under wood splinters, in cracks, or in old exit holes. They generally prefer wood in cool locations with moisture levels above 14 percent. Habits: Anobiids can infest both hardwoods and softwoods. The body segment just behind the head is hoodlike and completely covers the head when the insect is viewed from above. Their color ranges from reddish brown to nearly black. ![]() The wood-infesting anobiids range from 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length. The few that do infest wood are also called powderpost beetles or deathwatch beetles. Anobiid Powderpost Beetlesĭescription: There are more than 200 kinds of anobiid beetles, of which very few infest wood. The entire life cycle for most lyctid beetles takes 9 to 12 months. Males and females exit at the same time and mate, and the new generation of females lays eggs again. This is why they are called “powderpost” beetles. Often, powdery wood dust created by the beetle’s feeding is pushed out as the adult emerges. As the larvae grow, they bore to a point just underneath the surface of the wood, where they change into adults.Īfter they change, the adults cut a 1/32 to 1/16 inch circular exit hole in the surface of the wood. When they hatch, the tiny larvae bore down into the wood. The female lays an average of twenty to fifty eggs in crevices or on the ends of boards. They can live in wood with a wide moisture range, from a dry 8 percent to a very moist 32 percent. Habits: Lyctid beetles infest only hardwoods, such as oak. Their heads are obvious when these insects are viewed from above. They are slender and range in color from reddish-brown to black. These are considered the “true” powderpost beetles and the adults are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. Lyctid Powderpost Beetlesĭescription: In the United States, there are more than thirty-five kinds of lyctid beetles. This fact sheet discusses the identification and control of some of the most common wood-boring beetles found in South Carolina. The type of wood (hardwood or softwood), the moisture content of the wood, and the environmental conditions at the infestation site all affect the severity of beetle damage. The amount of damage that wood-boring beetles cause depends on many factors. Older pieces might be stuffed with animal hair which carpet beetle larvae will happily infest.©Milan Zubrik, Forest Research Institute – Slovakia, Īfter termites, wood-boring beetles are the most important wood-destroying insects in homes. Old furniture: Be prepared to let your natural fiber, silk, or wool chair or rug go if you have a serious problem.Keep clothes clean and run laundry regularly to ensure that your dirty clothes aren't contributing to a carpet beetle problem. Cotton is not a preferred food source for carpet beetles unless it is heavily soiled with sweat or food stains. Soiled laundry: Clothing made of silk, wool, feathers, leather, felt, and furs can also be a food source, especially when dirty.Remove food sources, such as pet and human hair, books, seeds, grains, and flour. ![]()
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