Long-Horned Beetles and Old House Beetles

Long-Horned Beetles

Most representatives of this family infest and feed on dead or dying trees. However there are many that feed on living trees. There are some of these species which begin their development in dying trees, logs, or unseasoned lumber and then complete the development as the wood seasons.

A common source for these beetles indoors is from firewood brought indoors. A sighting of these beetles can lead to a false assumption of a structural attack. Firewood that is brought in, should be used very soon after it is brought inside.

The beetles of this family lay their eggs in cracks or crevices in the bark or on the surface of rough sawn timbers. The larvae are wood borers. The adults of these boers will emerge from the wood after it has been incorporated into a structure. They will not re infest the wood because of its dryness, but they are of great concern to property owners who find them or evidence of their activity.

Old House Borer
The Old House Borer is one of the most common from this family, with it's larvae hollowing out galleries in seasoned softwood(pine). It is found in older buildings, but is more frequent in newer buildings,(in houses less than 10 years old).

It is well established along the Atlantic Coast, but infestations have been reported as far as Louisiana and Minnesota.

The adults are brownish-black to black, slightly flattened and about 3/4-1 inch long. The life cycle of the old house borer ranges between three to twelve years,. Because this beetle has a very long life cycle and can make re infestations of the same piece of wood , it may be many years before serious structural damage is recognized. The exit holes of emerging adults do not occur in very large numbers until the infestation has been established for several years. This , along with the fact that larvae will do extensive feeding without breaking through the surface of the wood, make it necessary to do a thorough house inspection by a qualified pest control expert like those at Adios Pest Control to detect old house borer damage. Rough wood being examined should be probed or struck to detect weakness or the presence of boring dust. If exit holes are present, they will be broadly oval and about 1/4-3/8 inch in diameter. The life cycle of the old house borer ranges between three to twelve years, but can be last longer if conditions are favorable. Because of the long life cycle, re infesting the wood it may take years before you see any structural damage. The exit holes are about 1/4-3/8-inch in diameter, but damage may have occurred for several years before spotting such holes. They are able to digest cellulose. When wood has been infested with fungi, the larval development is faster. Their powder (frass) in the tunnels are like sawdust , tightly packed.

Adios Pest Control is your local San Diego pest control company, including Chula Vista and all of San Diego county; we provide complete pest control services.