Wood Destroyers
Common Wood Destroying Insects
Termite
Flatheaded Borers
Longhorn Beetles
Powderpost Beetles
Wood-boring Weevils
Carpenter Ants
Termites
Major destroyers of wood and wood product materials. Normally associated with buildings, but can also infest wood that has been stored for some time. There are three basic kinds of termites: Subterranean, Dampwood, Drywood.
Isoptera(termites)
[social insects, winged reproductive with both wings same size and membranous; straight or curved antennae consists of beadlike segments; abdomen broadly joined to thorax; no cerci; chewing mouthparts]
Termites are sometimes called “white ants” because they are ant-like in form. Termites differ in antenna form and having a broad waist.
Subterranean termite colonies live in the soil from which they construct exploratory tubes in search of wood.
Termite Swarming is usually the first evidence of an infestation noticed by most people.
Drywood Termites
Can live in dry, sound wood
Usually tropical and subtropical
Kick out characteristic fecal pellets
Wood-boring Beetle Management
- Detect early! (regularly inspect – powder)
- Keep lumber at less than 18% moisture
- Keep lumber off of moist floors or ground
- Resaw to remove sapwood
- Don’t purchase infested lumber & destroy lumber that becomes infested
- Fumigate high cost lumber (professionals only!)
Carpenter Ant Damage
- Carpenter ants need water
- Usually build nests in damp or partially rotted wood, but can extend their nests into sound wood
- Keep lumber dry and properly stacked.
Powder Post Beetles
The main sign of powderpost beetles is powdery sawdust. Powderpost beetles turn wood to dust!
Lyctid powderpost beetles
Attack sapwood
Attack hardwoods only, rarely maple
Require 8% to 32% moisture
Anobiid powderpost beetles
Prefer old woods, 10-20 years old!
Attack hardwoods and softwoods including maple
Require 13% to 30% moisture