Wood-boring Beetles Facts and Information

Wood-boring beetles, particularly powderpost beetles, are significant wood-destroying insects in Southern California. These beetles can cause extensive damage to structural timber, furniture, and other wood products, often remaining undetected until significant damage has occurred.

These persistent pests have a unique life cycle that can span 1-5 years, with larvae doing most of the damage as they tunnel through wood. Adult beetles emerge in spring and summer, leaving distinctive small, round exit holes. The presence of fine, powdery frass (wood dust) near these holes is a telltale sign of infestation. Their ability to reinfest the same wood and their preference for hardwoods with high starch content makes them particularly problematic in both new construction and older structures. The long development period and hidden nature of their damage often means infestations aren't discovered until significant structural compromise has occurred.