Lyctus powderpost beetle

Habitat:

Found in the sapwood of tropical and European hardwoods, mainly oak and elm, with large pores and a high starch content. Not found in softwoods.

In solid timber, damage almost always originates in stockyards or stockroom infestation. Only found in timber that has enough starch and pores large enough for the female to lay her eggs in. Common in furniture and occasionally in block or strip flooring. Veneers, plywood and blockboard are also susceptible.

Damage characteristics:

Emergence holes are circular, 1-2 mm in diameter.

Tunnels are circular, 1-2 mm in diameter. They are usually parallel to the grain and may be missed in the initial stages of attack. In later stages the sapwood almost totally disintegrates, leaving a thin intact surface skin of wood.

Bore dust is cream-coloured, fine, talc-like when rubbed between the fingers. It may accumulate in small piles beneath emergence holes. It is easily shaken out of tunnels.

Insect characteristics and location:

Adults are 4-7 mm long, reddish brown to black; flattened and elongated with roughly parallel sides compared with the rounded shape of common furniture beetle. Found on or around damaged timber, particularly May - Sept, but throughout the year in heated buildings.

Larva are up to 6 mm long, curved, pale cream, with three pairs of small legs, darker spots (breathing pores) on either side near the rear of the body. Found all year round in infested timber.

Photograph of adult