How To Get Rid Of Powderpost Beetles

Powderpost Beetle Control: How To Get Rid of Powderpost Beetles

This page is a general Powderpost Beetle control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of Powderpost Beetles. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of Powderpost Beetles.

When it comes to wood-destroying bugs, the usual suspects are termites and carpenter ants. Another common pest that often goes under the radar that also enjoys feeding and destroying wood is the Powderpost Beetle. This beetle species earned the "powderpost" part of their name due to the fact that the larvae of these beetles feed on wood and if given enough time they can break down the wood until it becomes merely a powdery dust.

Powderpost Beetles infest homes because they need wood in order to lay their eggs. They deposit their eggs when they penetrate and make holes inside wood, where the eggs turn into larvae and feed on the wood until reaching maturity. It takes typically up to 5 years before the larvae will mature into an adult which means a lot of feeding on wood and on furniture.

If you are experiencing an infestation of Powderpost Beetles on your property, follow our DIY guide below which explains more about this insect and how to get rid of Powderpost Beetles using expert how-to advice and professional Powderpost Beetle treatment products.

Identification

Dead Powderpost Beetle on White Background

The first step is to identify the pest and make sure that they are Powderpost Beetles and not some other insect. Misidentification of the Powderpost Beetle can lead to using the wrong treatment products, wasting your time and money. Here are some traits to watch out for when identifying Powderpost Beetles:

Powderpost Beetle adults are extremely small, less than 1/4" in size. They have flat-shaped cylindrical bodies and vary between reddish-brown to black in color. They have protective wings that feature distinct pit-like rows, giving them a hardened appearance.
Powder post beetles go through several stages similar to a fly or a flea. Starting from an egg, they develop into larvae, pupae and then adults.
Powder post beetle larvae look like your average grub, a creamy white with dark brown at the tip. Larvae burrow themselves into wood to transition into a pupa.
The Powderpost Beetle adult period is a short lifespan where they mainly lay eggs and die shortly after. Once they reach adulthood, they bore out from the wood. While doing so, they push out a fine powdery dust, which is how they get their name. The shape of their holes look like a tiny pinhole.

Use the description and image above to help you in properly identifying Powderpost Beetles. If you are not sure or are having trouble, contact us and we will try and assist with identification.

Inspection

powderpost beetle damage inspection

Once you are certain that you have Powderpost Beetles you need to know where the Powderpost Beetles are located and if you have an active infestation. During the inspection, you will be looking for the obvious signs of a Powderpost Beetle infestation.

Where To Inspect

Indoors inspect attics, basements, garages, furniture, beams, joists, and structural joints and anywhere where there is exposed wood. Outdoors check crawl spaces, foundations, and where wood is exposed.

What To Look For

You're looking for tiny holes or Powderpost damage in wood, and the Beetles themselves. An active infestation of powder post beetles will be evident by seeing powdered wood from borings in piles on the floor below or near the holes. Another indicator of an infestation may be hearing a clicking noise made by the larvae. You should also check if the shavings you spot are recent or old, this can be indicated via observing the color. New frass and wood dust is a fine sandy color.

A good way to make sure if an infestation is active is clearing the sawdust piles and waiting until fall or winter to see if new sawdust is accumulated, the seasons when Powderpost beetles are active. If you have confirmed Powderpost Beetle activity proceed with treatment.

Treatment

Now that you have confirmed Powderpost Beetle activity, it is time to begin treatment. Remember to first read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Our top recommendations for Powder Post Beetle treatment is Boracare and Fipro Aerosol. Bora-Care will be used on the pieces of unfinished wood and should provide protection for up to 12 years. Fipro Foaming Aerosol will be used to treat active sites where Powder Post Beetles have burrowed into wood.

Step 1 - Wood Treatment with Boracare

boracare treatment powderpost beetles

Treat infested wood with Bora-Care which is a Borate salt-based treatment for wood. It helps to prevent further insect damage from wood-destoying insects like Powderpost Beetles. Start by determining how much Boracare you need by calculating the size of the treatment area.

Measure the linear feet of all exterior walls and interior walls and other areas you wish to treat. Most commonly, homes use 2x4, 2x6 or 2x8 studs on their walls. 1 gallon of diluter Boracare can cover 600 lineal feet for 2x4 studs, 400 lineal feet for 2x6 studs and 308 lineal feet for 2x8 studs. Linear feet is simply the length of the measurement (6 linear feet = 6 total feet).

Bora-Care should be mixed in a separate bucket before adding it to your sprayer. Bora-Care needs to be mixed with hot or warm water so the product doesn't crystalize. For Powderpost Beetle treatment, you should mix Bora-Care at 1:1 (1 gallon of water with 1 gallon of Boracare) ratio for remedial treatments, a 2:1 ratio for hardwood floors or a 5:1 dilution ratio for prevention. Add the hot water and Boracare to a bucket and mix the product thoroughly, then add it to your sprayer. You can also add a marking dye to the mix to help show where the product has been applied to keep track.

Apply in unfinished wood in attics, basements, crawl spaces, or behind sheetrock.

Step 2 - Apply Fipro Foaming Aerosol

Fipro Aerosol application for Powder Post beetles

If Powderpost Beetles have gotten into unfinished wood, we suggest using Fipro Foaming Aerosol. Fipro Aerosol contains Fipronil in a ready-to-use foam aerosol formulation, making it perfect for treating Powderpost Beetles that have drilled holes into wood and are in hiding.

To use Fipro Foaming Aerosol, you might have to drill holes to inject this product into the wood, and can inject the product with the help of the accompanying applicator tip. Use sufficient foam to treat the suspected areas, holding the tip in place for approximately 8 seconds to allow the product to dispense into the treatment area.

Apply the Fipro to treat for Powderpost Beetles in areas such as crawl spaces, attics, unexposed wooden elements inside walls, galleries or other potential harborages.

Prevention

After you have treated and eliminated the Powderpost Beetle infestation, you don't want them to return. Prevent Powderpost Beetles from coming back by implementing the following measures:

Start by inspecting every new piece of wood you bring into the home. Making sure every piece of furniture or piece of wood has been varnished, waxed, and painted and completely dried or either air-dried or kiln-dried, and there are no high moisture levels found inside the wood will prevent Powderpost Beetles.
Also, make sure to store all wood products away from barns and sheds, and remember to use new wood when replacing a structural joint in the home.
Making sure moisture issues in the home are addressed is extremely important to prevent Powderpost Beetles. Implementing central heat, dehumidifiers, and good ventilation will ensure moisture is reduced in your home and inside the wooden components of your structure.
Make sure your wood does not have wood to soil to contact will also reduce moisture levels inside wood which will be less attractive to Powderpost Beetles.

And finally, you can use Boracare Insecticide preventatively for new and unfinished wood. This insecticide will prevent Powderpost Beetles for a long time and will be absorbed by the wood for many years, affecting any Beetles that tries to bore inside.

Key Takeaways

What are Powderpost Beetles?

Powderpost Beetles are a damaging wood-boring pest that can infest wood and lay eggs where larvae will feed on wood until adulthood.
Powderpost Beetle damage is similar to Termite damage with the difference being that it is the powderpost beetle larvae that are most destructive.