Powderpost Beetles
What are powderpost beetles?
Powderpost beetles(Lyctus spp.) are wood boring insects commonly found in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. They are small, brown pests that are usually less than 1/4-inch in length and breed in hardwoods ranging from tree branches to wooden furniture and other wooden structures made by man. Obvious signs of a powderpost beetle infestation include several small holes about 1/16 to 1/8-inch in diameter in hardwood flooring, furniture as well as the wooden structures of homes and buildings. They also leave behind powder-like sawdust.
Why do I have a powderpost beetle problem?
Powderpost beeltes may have entered your home or building inside the lumber that was used to build the structure. They also are commonly found in hardwoood furniture, flooring and tend breed in tree limbs and branches around your property as well as in the seasoned wood in your home. While adult powderpost beetles do not feed, the larvae mainly rely on the sapwood of trees for a high starch diet.
Are powderpost beetles dangerous?
Powderpost beetles are not dangerous to people or pets. The major concern is the damage powderpost beetles can cause to wooden structures. While adult powderpost beetles are relatively harmless, the larvae can reduce hardwood to the fine powder-like sawdust they are known for. Antiques and old wooden items are especially susceptible to beetle damage but they can infest the lumber and other wooden sections of homes and buildings as well as the trees and rotten or decaying wood located on the property.
How do I get rid of them?
Once Powderpost beetles have established themselves in furniture, lumber, rafters or other wooden items it can be difficult to remove them. That's because powderpost beetles will continue to breed in an infested piece of wood for generations which results in an ultimate destruction of the wood. Using the pest control services of Assured Environments is the most effective way to stop powderpost infestations. Our knowledgeable pest control technicians will provide you with a safe resolution that ensures your powderpost beetle problems are resolved.
Can I do it myself?
Wood destroying beetles hide in the pores of wood and for that reason are hard for those who like Do-It-Yourself treatments to find, let alone eliminate. Assured Environments has a great deal of experience in dealing with powderpost beetle infestations of this nature and have pest control treatments and methods to effectively get rid of these wood boring pests.
How soon can you get here?
Assured Environments understand that your powderpost beetle problems are a priority for you and that is why we commit to being there when you need us. We can usually begin to tackle the problem the same or very next day.
Is the treatment for wood destroying beetles safe?
All pest control products used by Assured Environments have been thoroughly checked and passed for pest control use by the EPA. In addition, Assured Environments apply these products under a strict set of guidelines which means you can be sure they will cause no harm to humans or pets. Should any particular safety measures need to be taken, our trained pest control professionals will inform you immediately.
How can I prevent powderpost beetles problems in the future?
Preventing powderpost beetles is extremely hard to accomplish due to their elusive nature and ability to inhabit hardwood furniture and lumber without the owner knowing. Certain things like making sure uninfested wood is sanded and varnished is critical because treated hardwood will not normally be attacked by the adult beetles looking for crevices in wood surfaces to deposit their eggs. It is also helpful to not store antiques and furniture in outbuildings like barns because these types of structures are usually old and infested with powederpost beetles already but contacting Assured Environments at the first sign of a powderpost beetle infestation is your best course of action.