Bostrychid powderpost beetle

Habitat:

Partially or fully dried sapwood of tropical timber and plywood, sometimes bamboo or cane. Only found in the UK in imported timber. The larvae may survive for some months and emerge as adults. They cannot re-infest in UK climatic conditions, either outside or in heated buildings.

Damage characteristics:

Adults bore into timber to lay eggs, therefore bore holes do not necessarily indicate emergence.

Emergence and entry holes Circular, 3-6 mm in diameter.

Tunnels Circular, 3-6 mm in diameter, convoluted, ending in pupal chambers near the surface.

Bore dust Fine, floury, cream-coloured, tightly packed in tunnels.

Insect characteristics and location:

Adults 4-11 mm depending on species. Brown or black and cylindrical. Head not visible from above. Front of head usually flattened and heavily sculptured. Found on or around infested wood.

Larva Up to 12 mm long, curved, pale cream. Three pairs of small legs. Several pairs of conspicuous oval breathing pores of uniform size along sides of abdomen. Diagonal raised white line on either side of body at head end. No enlarged breathing pores at rear end. Found in infested wood, all year round.