Timber Borers | Paramount Pest Control


WEEVIL (Curuculionidae) . There are many species of weevil, most of which attack dead wood, native weevils cause the most damage, there is no control required for weevils they are detected mainly in ports, where quarantine authorities require fumigation. Damage seen is the result of old infestation occurring in the forest

Did you know? During the first few years of feeding, the larvae cannot be heard, but when they are about four years old the chewing sounds are audible.

Longicorn Beetle

Wood Moth

Woodwasps

Jewel Beetle


JEWEL BEETLE (Diadoxus scalaris) . The jewel beetle is a native pest, attacking damaged and weakened trees in bushland areas. A jewel beetle can emerge from timber up to 50 years after milling has occurred, jewel beetles are not a threat to homeowners, and not of any concern to pest controllers.

Weevil

Powderpost Beetle

Pinhole Borer

PINHOLE BORER

(Austroplatypus incompertus).

The pinhole borer infests freshly sawn timber in very moist conditions, often the stained holes persist in the finished article, it does not affect the strength of the timber so there is usually no reason for concern. The damage may often be identified as powder post beetle or furniture beetle, and in doing so treatment is sometimes carried out when not necessary.


FURNITURE BEETLE (Anobium punctatum) . The furniture beetle usually attacks pine timbers, particularly old timbers at least 20 years, they can also attack some hardwoods, such as oak. Attack occurs in flooring, paneling and furniture. Damage by furniture beetles can often be detected during a pest inspection, or when a heavy piece of furniture breaks through an infested floor.

Furniture Beetle

Borer Damage

Fact: Females lay eggs into hardwood timber and, on hatching, the grubs feed on the starch present in the wood. The larvae pupate into adult beetles, which then bore their way out of the wood and die. This leaves the timber riddled with small holes approximately 2 mm in diameter, in some cases affecting its strength.
The word "borers" applies to all wood boring insects, including moths, beetles, flies & weevils. Most of the damage they cause is done in the larval stage. Borers attack urban and rural forest trees, causing defects in the wood, weakening the tree and sometimes killing it. Some borers attack the tree after it has been felled, the log is attractive to many insects and once it is felled a tree can no longer produce defensive materials to protect it from such attack. Borers can lay dormant in timbers for many years, these timbers often do not show any evidence of infestation and are used for construction of homes, furniture etc. The borer will emerge causing damage to the timber, which becomes a concern. Some borers cause more damage than others and it is most important that a professional is consulted, to identify what type of borer damage has been caused in order to avoid unnecessary treatments.

Household Pests | Timber Pests | Rodents | Miscellaneous Pests | Pest Inspections


POWDERPOST BEETLE (Lyctus brunneus) . The powderpost beetle attacks the sapwood of hardwoods, their presence is usually detected in the first few years of life of the timber, or piece of furniture. The beetle bores through the timber and deposits a fine dust (frass) then dies, this may take a long period of time, treatment is available but where possible replacement of timbers is advised.


LONGICORN BEETLE (Phoracantha recurva) . The longicorn beetle emerges from timber up to 6 months after milling, when timber containing larvae or pupae is used in buildings they emerge through the large oval holes, causing great concern to home owners, because of the size of the holes. The larvae is legless and quite large.


WOOD MOTH (Order: Lepidoptera) . There are many species of wood moth that attack growing trees, these are forest pests and not often seen during a property inspection. The wood moth is destructive during its laval stage and is detected during milling as the damage holes, are usually large and quite evident.


WOODWASP (Sirex noctilio) . The woodwasp in Australia was introduced from New Zealand, and does not pose a problem to properties or pest controllers, however they are of concern during shipping of timbers, and as such require fumigation, but once the timber is dry the woodwasp will die.