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Protecting
Wood From Beetles
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Difficult to control but fairly easy to
prevent -
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Summary: Certain
small wood boring beetles, called
powderpost beetles, attack both hardwoods and
softwoods. While it is relatively easy to prevent
an infestation it can be very difficult to
eliminate one once the infestation gets a
foothold.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist
(ret.)
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Borates protect wood from beetles
Borate insecticides such as Bora
Care and Timbor
are often the best choice when treating active
infestations of wood boring beetles, and for
preventing infestations from starting, see Borate
Insecticides, Bora
Care, and Timbor
Insecticide for more information.
Borate insecticides are applied as
liquids and form a layer of borate crystals in
the wood's surface layer when they dry. Borate
is toxic to insects, and fungi, and and thus
prevent wood borers from crossing this layer
either boring in or out. Borates applied to the
surface of wood do
not generally control
larvae that are already in the wood at
the time of application, however.
If you are installing hardwood
flooring, for example, here's a
suggestion: flooring material is sometimes
infested with lyctid powderpost beetles when
it arrives on the job site. Despite
manufacturer's claims to the contrary, this
can occur even if the flooring stock has been
kiln-dried. Kiln-dried wood can become
infested if stored improperly and exposed to
an active beetle infestation.
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Anobiid powderpost beetle
emergence holes in fir.
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To stop a potential infestation treat
the flooring stock with borate
before installation. Borate solution should be
applied to the unfinished back and
tongue/groove edges. Solution can also be applied to
the top if this surface is unfinished. Do
not apply to finished surfaces because the
borate solution must soak in to be effective. Borate
solution can be mixed yourself and applied with a
small brush or paint roller.
After the solution dries the wood will be
impregnated with borate which will prevent beetle
larvae from boring into the underside, or edges,
once the floor is installed. The top side is
protected by the finish applied to this surface.
Don't get the wood too wet as the flooring may warp,
and allow flooring to dry completely before
installation. This procedure
won't stop beetles already in the wood floor from
emerging but it might stop, or slow, an infestation
from growing.
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Prevent structural wood damage
Infestations of anobiid powderpost
beetles in structural wood like floor joists,
wall studs and posts occur mainly in coastal, and
other damp, climates where the wood has a relatively
high moisture content. Damage can be extensive
if left untreated. Weakened
timbers should be replaced and remaining wood
treated with borate insecticide.
What are
Wood Boring Powderpost Beetles?
Powderpost
Beetles Guide
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Anobiid beetle damage in
softwood. Damage (arrow) is
concentrated near the surface in this side
view.
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