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Color: They are red brown, narrow and somewhat flattened.
Size: Adults – 5mm in length. The larvae are creamy white and measure 6mm when fully developed.
Larvae live in the wood, creating galleries (tunnel) as they eat wood. Adult activity is greatest in early spring. Adults are inactive in the day, concealing themselves in cracks and holes in the wood. At night, they become active, are attracted to lights, and may be seen crawling on windowsills, floors and furniture.
Adults are inactive in the day, concealing themselves in cracks and holes in the wood. At night, they become active, are attracted to lights, and may be seen crawling on windowsills, floors and furniture.
Powder post beetles often attack hardwoods, and can be found in hardwood floors, timbers and crates, antiques and other objects made of hardwood materials.
Some researchers believe that powder post beetles are second only to termites in the United States in their destructiveness to wood and wood products. They infest and reinfest dry seasoned wood, with the interior of such wood (Sapwood) being completely riddled with holes or galleries and packed with wood dust or frass. Pinhole openings, often called shot holes, perforate the surface of infested wood. Both softwood (pine, fir, and some maple) and Hardwood (ash, oak, walnut, and pecan) are attacked. Powder post beetle infest flooring, studs, girders and other part of buildings as well as lumber, crating, paneling, furniture, too handles, gunstocks.
- The first step in managing powder post beetles is to determine whether the infestation is active. Wipe and vacuum all dust from the wood, and examine the area a week later. If the infestation is active, new holes and fresh sawdust should be visible. Be sure that what is seen is not old dust that has dislodged due to vibrations. Check more than once (even many months later) if it is unclear whether old or new dust is found. If no new dust is found, the infestation is not active, and no control is necessary. Another technique is to circle all the exit holes you see with a pencil. If weeks or months later no new holes have appeared, the infestation is not active.
- Beetles can be killed by freezing the material at or below 0° F for four to seven days. Wood left outdoors for extended periods of time should be placed in a plastic bag or wrapped in plastic. This prevents absorption of moisture which can damage wood products. Heating smaller wood products at 120° F for 2 hours should kill all stages of the beetle, but be sure that the item is heated all the way through. Use caution, however, since some wood products and their finishes may be damaged by prolonged freezing or heating.
- Another control method is to protect the wood surface with varnish, paint, or other similar sealants. While this does not kill insects in the wood, it does prevent reinfestation by eliminating all sites appropriate for egg laying.
- It's advisable to install a moisture barrier in the crawl space of infested buildings. Covering the soil with 4-6 mil polyethylene reduces movement of moisture into the substructure and reduces the threat of an infestation spreading upwards into walls and upper portions of the building. Another way to lower wood moisture content in damp crawl space is to increase ventilation. This can be accomplished by installing foundation vents (1 square-ft of vent area per 150 Square-ft of crawl space).
- If the infestation appears to be localized (e.g., only a few holes in a board or sheet of paneling), simply replacing the board or sheet of paneling may solve the problem. If additional holes begin to appear in adjacent areas, additional action can then be taken.
Manufacturer Recommended Products And Treatment For Aphids Control
Pests need food, water, and shelter. Often the problem may be solved just by removing these key items. Before even thinking about chemical pest control, it is important to be aware of
Conducive Condition | Recommendation | |
1 | Tree branches on house | Keep tree branches away from house to reduce pest access |
2 | Firewood next to foundation | Keep firewood away from house to reduce pest harborage |
3 | Debris on crawlspace/next to foundation | Remove wood debris to reduce termite ha rborage area |
4 | Excessive plant cover, stump, etc. | Providing spacing between plant cover and structure |
5 | Soil above the foundation Ii ne | Keep soil below top of foundation to reduce harbo rage areas |
6 | Wood-to-ground contact | Keep soil from touching wood to eliminate termite access |
7 | Debris on roof/full gutter | Keep gutter & roof free of debris to reduce insect harborage |
8 | Standi ng water near/under structure | Eli minate standing water to reduce pest harbo rage |
9 | Mo isture problem under structure | Increase ventilation to reduce pest harbo rage area |
10 | Openi ngs at plumbi ng & electronics | Seal opening to reduce pest access |
11 | Excessive gaps at windows/doors | Seal gaps to reduce pest access |
12 | Lea ky plumb ing fixtures | Repair to reduce moisture for pests |
13 | Keep garbage cans covered | Covered to reduce attraction of insects of vertebrate pests |
14 | Mo isture damage wood | Repair rotten or damaged wood to reduce insect harborage |
15 | Grocery bags stored improperly | Seal paper sacks in containers to reduce i nsect ha rborage areas |
16 | Pet food unsealed or left out | Keep pet food in sealed containers and unavailable to pests |
17 | Excessive storage conditions | Keep storage areas uncluttered and manageable |
18 | Debris below kick plates | Remove kick plates to reduce rodent harborage |
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