Hi,
I am also in San Antonio.
I am an amateur woodworker who likes to work with mesquite.
Mesquite always has powderpost beetles.
What is the surface treatment that you recommend while the wood is not
finshed?
Thank you,
Powder Post Beetles
Summary: Power post beetles can be transported into homes in antique furniture or firewood, to name just two examples. Power post beetles make small, pellet-sized holes in wood, seen often in antiques and even antique reproductions.
Donna K, San Antonio, TX asks: What is the proper treatment for powder post beetles?
Dear Donna: First question to ask is how do you know it is, in fact, power post beetles? If it is, how do you know it is an active infestation? Some infestations die on their own without any treatment. Are you finding fine, power-like little piles under some piece of furniture? I want you to be sure the powder post beetle is the problem in order to confirm that treatments are necessary.
There are lots of things you can do to treat for these insects such as increasing ventilation to reduce humidity. Wood moisture levels under 13%
 Powder Post Beetle damage |
during spring and summer will make wood unsuitable for power post beetle life. Borrow, rent or buy a wood moisture meter to check your wood.
If the powder post beetles were found on a small section of wood such as a section of flooring, you might be able to cure the problem by simply replacing that affected section of the floor. There are power post beetle surface treatments for wood, but if the wood has any type of finish like paint or varnish the pesticide materials will not properly saturate the wood to kill the power post beetles. The finish would have to be sanded off prior to treatment.
Fumigation is a great power post beetle treatment, but very expensive, especially if you are treating an entire house. It requires tenting a structure and pumping deadly gas into the tented structure and vacating the house for several days.
I suggest speaking with your local County Cooperative Extension Agent about the problem before you speak with an exterminator. The Agent has no vested interest in selling you anything and he'll give you answers with no obligations. Take him a sample of what you are finding or a specimen of the insect if you have one.
Comments
Jim
31 Jul 2008, 17:58
31 Jul 2008, 17:58
Melanie
21 Mar 2009, 11:08
21 Mar 2009, 11:08
I am in KC and recently purchased drift wood from a pet supplier. The wood
is for my parrots. I've just noticed small, fresh holes with very fine
shavings around them - lots of holes - in the wood. Nearby was a very
small, black bug that almost looked like a square ant... I took the wood
outside and it is currently under water in a trash container. I need to
find a toxic-free solution to treat the wood or stop the bugs. With birds
in the house, it's very important that I not put anything dangerous or
unidentifiable into the air. Do you have any suggestions?
Pamela Miller
04 Jun 2009, 11:27
04 Jun 2009, 11:27
I have pine furniture that we brought home from France 5 years ago. I just
noticed a small pile of sawdust under a bookshelf. There are no holes, but
looking into a knothole with a flashlight, I could see that it looks like
something's been eating it. (We have plenty of antique wood with holes,
but nothing that looks active, and no other cones of dust anywhere.) I just
had a pest person in who said that there's nothing I can or should do--that
it'll be fine just left alone. He said that I could put clear nail polish
in the knothole to suffocate the bugs. What is your opinion?
Robert E.
20 Jun 2009, 09:34
Good Site Rick,
Yes I know for sure I do have the beetles. Have you ever heard of a liqued
called: Penta? A friend of mine said his
dad used it years ago over the wood area
that was infected.....No bugs after use
in applicated area.
Thanks, REL
20 Jun 2009, 09:34
Good Site Rick,
Yes I know for sure I do have the beetles. Have you ever heard of a liqued
called: Penta? A friend of mine said his
dad used it years ago over the wood area
that was infected.....No bugs after use
in applicated area.
Thanks, REL
judynorton1@msn.com
11 Apr 2010, 17:46
11 Apr 2010, 17:46
My husband wants to know the best way to treat Powder Post Beetles.
Beth
17 May 2011, 16:53
17 May 2011, 16:53
Can powder post beetles infest pressure treated fencing? Will the result
look almost look like wood putty? Thanks
Ask the Exterminator
20 May 2011, 07:48
20 May 2011, 07:48
It is possible for powderpost beetles to infest treated wood if the
treatment was not thorough or the wood is old. The beetles create small
holes the size of gun shot. They create a very find dust that, when wet,
might appear like a type of putty.
Susan
22 Jul 2011, 16:32
22 Jul 2011, 16:32
My husband makes wine for his own use and has been for more than 50yrs.
The barrel is oak and he recently found a fine powdery substance on the
outside of the barrel. The empty barrel is stored in a cool climate
controlled enclosed area of the basement. He had never seen this before
(having used many oak barrels over the years) and upon close inpection
found hundreds of tiny holes in the wood and what he thought was a gnat
flying around. Prior to storing the barrel, he knew that there were wine
stains on the outside of the barrel and now the stains are gone and it
looks like the barrel was sanded clean. Do you think this was caused by
powder post beetles?
Ask the Exterminator
22 Jul 2011, 17:28
22 Jul 2011, 17:28
The fine powder and tiny holes certainly sound like powder post beetles.
The stain removal and sanding is something I've never seen.
dave
03 Nov 2011, 22:32
03 Nov 2011, 22:32
Hello!
I currently have 4 cords of wood in my garage, and some of it has powder post beetles. I usually bring in about 1 to 2 cords and store it in my basement next to my woodstove. However, I'm afraid that these beetles will do harm to my house. The weather here is getting cold, and I wonder if the beetles will be dormant this time of year? Or what should I do? Help! This wood is my primary heat source.
Thanks!
I currently have 4 cords of wood in my garage, and some of it has powder post beetles. I usually bring in about 1 to 2 cords and store it in my basement next to my woodstove. However, I'm afraid that these beetles will do harm to my house. The weather here is getting cold, and I wonder if the beetles will be dormant this time of year? Or what should I do? Help! This wood is my primary heat source.
Thanks!
Ask the Exterminator
15 Nov 2011, 17:23
15 Nov 2011, 17:23
Leave the wood outside until you are ready to put it in the fireplace.
Otherwise, you are asking for trouble.
dave
15 Nov 2011, 19:50
15 Nov 2011, 19:50
Bummer. I was hoping you wouldn't say that. The problem is that if I leave
this wood outside it will still be cold when I go to burn it. Because there
is still a good amount of moisture in the wood, it will burn quick and
won't throw much heat. I have three small children in the house, so I need
to keep my house warm this winter.
What I was thinking of doing is inspecting and cleaning each peice of wood. If there's even 1 hole in it, I leave it outside. If it looks good, then I'll bring it in. I think that might cut back on my trouble?
What I was thinking of doing is inspecting and cleaning each peice of wood. If there's even 1 hole in it, I leave it outside. If it looks good, then I'll bring it in. I think that might cut back on my trouble?
Lauren
22 Dec 2011, 22:30
22 Dec 2011, 22:30
Hi, I just returned from Thailand with a wooden buddha and when I went to
hang it on the wall noticed the typical fine powder shavings coming out of
the back of the piece, and some small pinholes. (I've had powder beetles 2x
before in a frame and furniture.) On Monday I put the small piece in a
ziplock bag and today see a few black beetles crawling around in the bag,
which I squished, and more holes dotting the piece. Is there a way of
treating this art item or do I need to throw it out? Someone mentioned
putting it in the oven or microwave to heat/kill the bugs, but I'm not sure
how or what to do. Love your recommendation. Thanks!
Wendy
27 Dec 2011, 13:07
27 Dec 2011, 13:07
We bought a house 11 years ago that had been treated for powder post
beetles below the house (100% crawl space - no basement) We continued the
contract with the exterminator to treat the house annually. After all this
time do we need to continue to renew this contract.
Ask the Exterminator
29 Dec 2011, 14:12
29 Dec 2011, 14:12
Powder post beetles are most often treated with a product that saturates
the infested wood. One or two treatments usually takes care of the problem.
Better ask your exterminator what product is being used and why they are
retreating every year.
