Their Control and Biology
Biology: Powderpost beetles are so called because in high numbers they are able to turn the inside of a piece of wood into nothing more than a mass of fine powder. These wood destroying beetles can do significant damage to log homes, furniture, wood floors and structural timbers in your home. Powder post beetles are small (1/8 inch) and the adult beetles are seldom seen. Most of the life cycle is spent in the grub or larvae stage eating wood. Damage is done by the larvae as they create narrow, meandering tunnels in wood as they feed. This stage can last between 1-10 years, depending upon a number of factors including species of beetle, type of wood infested, age of wood, moisture content of wood and air temperature. People do not realize that the wood is infested until the adult beetles emerge from within the wood. The exit holes are very small, about the size of a pin head. Newly emerged adults mate and lay eggs on or below the surface of bare (unfinished) wood. The eggs hatch into tiny larvae which bore into the wood, emerging as adults 1-10 years later. Infestations develop slowly, but wood can be reinfested year after year. Homeowners are more likely to see damage than the beetles themselves, because the adults are short-lived and are active mainly at night. When the wood is tapped with a hammer, dust will fall from these exit holes. Depending on the species, powder post beetles can infest hardwoods such as cherry and oak, or softwoods such as poplar, pine and bamboo. If you find a beetle infestation in a piece of oak furniture, this same species of beetle would not infest your pine floor but might infest other pieces of your oak furniture.
Exit holes from the powderpost beetles emerging may not be seen for
several years after the log house is constructed. Although it is possible that the
beetles entered the logs after the house was built, it is much more likely that the logs
were already infested when purchased from the factory. We strongly suggest that all
timbers in a log home be treated before assembly. It is much cheaper to treat
preventively and of course it is also much less labor intensive. The best product for this
wood treatment is Bora-Care. Boracare is odorless and (when label
instructions are followed) is very safe. This boron based material is mixed with water and
applied to the wood by brush or a hand held pump sprayer. For
more detailed information about treating and maintaining log homes with Bora-Care, go to Bora-Care and Log Homes article.
A Chapin pump sprayer is an excellent sprayer for this job because it comes
with fan tips that will give an even spray without puddling chemical on the surface.
Boracare will penetrate wood
2-4 inches deep and is a permanent treatment unless exposed to constant water which will
eventually leach it out. Boracare will
also help in the prevention of carpenter
ants, carpenter bees,
termites, fungus and wood rot. On log homes that are already standing, the varnish
on the logs must be removed before Boracare
is applied. On large logs, both sides of the logs should be treated to insure total
penetration. In some cases the logs can be drilled and the Boracare injected inside the logs and than
resealed.
The floor must be stripped and than painted or sprayed with Boracare. Be sure to check the sub flooring for damage also. If the home sits above a crawl space, it is suggested that the under structure be treated with Boracare also. After 72 hours of drying the floor can resealed.
At times, powderpost beetle infestations are so severe that a complete
fumigation is recommended by a licensed pest control operator. For light to moderate
infestations, or as a follow-up to fumigation, Boracare
will do an excellent job. In attics and crawl spaces you may find old house borer
damage also. This beetle is much bigger than the powderpost beetle and their exit
holes are huge. Boracare will kill
these also.
This gets a little tricky. You cannot apply the Boracare to the outside of the furniture, because the varnish will not allow penetration. You can carefully brush a very concentrated solution of Boracare inside and underneath drawers for partial control. The best solution is stripping, applying Boracare and then re-varnishing. Another solution is applying Jecta Gel. This a very concentrated form of Boracare in a gel base that is delivered by a plastic syringe. Drill small holes inside the legs of the furniture, inject the Jecta Gel and than reseal the holes. The Jecta Gel will spread in all directions from the applied site, penetrating deep into the wood to protect against all wood destroying organisms. Individual exit holes can also be treated one at a time with a good crack and crevice aerosol like Invader C & C aerosol.
| Jecta-Gel and Bora-Care cannot be shipped to AK |
Boracare is $98 per gallon. Mix one part Boracare to one part water. Each gallon of finished mix will treat up to 500 square feet.
Order case (4 gallons) Bora-Care
Jecta Gel is $39.50 per tube; each tube is sized to fit a standard caulking gun.
Professional Pest
Control Products
6920 Pine Forest Road
Pensacola, Florida 32526
Call us: 8:30 &
4:30 weekdays, Central Time |