This Little Bug Is Causing Chaos For Wooden Decks In Michigan

While winter can be everyone's least favorite time of the year, the biggest upside is you don't need to worry about bugs (unless you're like me and seem to be roommates with stink bugs no matter how hard you try to get rid of them). Sometimes I will take single-digit temps if it means I don't need to deal with mosquitos, ants, and more.

Bugs are essential parts of an ecosystem but boy can they be problematic.  When bugs like Carpenter Bees and Termites choose your place as a new home, bad things are bound to happen. This includes one bug that is a "silent assassin" that may be quietly living rent-free in your deck. Introducing Powderpost Beetles. 

What is a Powderpost Beetle?

The better question to ask isn't what is a powderpost beetle, but rather what are Powderpost Beetles. There are different kinds of powderpost beetles but all these beetles are similar to termites in that they are wood-destroying beetles that are known for burrowing into dry, seasoned wood year after year. The three most destructive species of Powderpost Beetles are lyctids, anobiids, and bostrichids. 

How To Identify A Powderpost Beetle Infestation

Powderpost Beetle reproduction takes place entirely inside dry unfinished wood and can be difficult to notice, especially considering beetle larvae can take up to one to five years to emerge from the wood. That's why it is important to notice the tells before an infestation gets bad.

Here are the two best ways to notice:

Powderpost Beetle Exit Holes

You can always tell a powderpost beetle has infested your wood because of the tiny holes that the beetles make. These small round holes are known as "exit holes" and are where the beetles emerge from the wood when they are fully grown. If there is no powder coming out of the hole, it means it is empty.

Wood dust piles

Much like carpenter bees, Powderpost Beetles burrow into wood. Powderpost Beetles are known for leaving behind wood powder that can be seen on crevices around infested wood and exiting the holes themselves.

By the time you notice the infestation, it may already be too late since these beetles are known to repeatedly infest the same wood over and over again. Once you notice it, you need to act quickly to try and salvage the wood. You can read about a variety of solutions here or watch the video below.