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False Powderpost Beetle
Physical Characteristics
Adults:
- Usually reddish-brown to black
- Size from 1/8 inch to 1 inch.
- Body is elongated and cylindrical.
- Head is directed downward, the thorax is usually hood-like and covers the head. There is one species, however, that does not have the head directed downward.
- Antennae are straight with a three to four segmented club at the end.
- Tarsi are five-segmented.
Larvae:
- Are grub-like and somewhat C-shaped.
- Are wrinkled in appearance
- Head is slightly darker than the cream-colored body.
- Have black mandibles.
Damage
- False powderpost beeltes prefer hardwood, but they will attack softwood. Most species only infest fresh wood and will not infest or reinfest seasoned wood. (This means that some structures or furniture may have signs of damage that was done before the wood was used to build the structure.)
- Exit holes are 0.09 to 0.28 inch in diameter, sometimes smaller.
- Tunnels are round and tightly packed with frass, which is a fine to coarse powder that tends to stick together.
- Infestations are usually in wood that contains bark, firewood, grapevine wreaths, veneers, furniture parts, and ornamental products.