Wood boring beetles have life cycles that include egg, larvae, pupae, and adult stages. Borates will kill the eggs and eliminate young larvae, thus preventing re-infestation by interrupting their life cycle Borate application methods for treating all beetle infestations are similar, however you should become familiar with the different infestation characteristics in order to know what to look for during inspections and what to expect after treatment.

POWDER-POST (LYCTID) BEETLES
Power post beetles usually infest only hardwoods and are often found in manufactured products in relatively new homes. They can be introduced as eggs or larvae in firewood, improperly dried wood, or wood that has been stored. Hardwood flooring, furniture, door and window frames and decorative trim are particularly susceptible to attack. Their short life cycle, large initial populations, and high survival rate often result in rapid and expensive damage. The larvae are responsible for all damage and feed entirely within the wood. Most infestations are not discovered until adult beetles emerge through the wood surface. Emergence holes are round, 1/32" to 1/8" in diameter and the frass is loosely packed with the feel of fine talcum powder - thus, their common name of powder-post beetle. Lyctid powder-post beetles will attack wood with moisture levels of eight to thirty-two percent but prefer a range of ten to twenty percent, typical of that found in most homes. The greatest period of activity occurs in late winter or early spring. The adults conceal themselves in cracks and holes in the wood during the day and become active at night. They are strong fliers and may be attracted to lights. Indoors, they may be seen crawling on windowsills, floors, furniture and other surfaces.

ANOBIID BEETLES
Anobiid beetles are one of the few beetle species that will attack both hardwoods and softwoods. Anobiid exit holes are round and about 1/8" in diameter. Larvae feeding in softwoods produce numerous oval pellets, which have a gritty feel. Infestations usually begin in crawl spaces or other areas where wood is near the ground. High moisture levels in the wood will speed the development of these beetles and, under favorable conditions, the cycle of re-infestation can occur within one to two years. Damage is usually detected in homes older than ten years since infestations develop slowly. Adult beetles are active only at night and may become numerous in early to late spring. If an active infestation is found in a 15 to 20 year old building, all wood should be carefully inspected for signs of infestation. This is especially important for structures on poorly drained sites or in warm, humid climates. Exit holes indicate that adult beetles have emerged and will continue to re-infest unless controlled.

OLD HOUSE BORERS
In some areas of the country, the old house borer is second only to termites in damage to structural wood. Found from Maine to Florida and west to Michigan and Texas, the behavior of old house borers is far different than their name suggests. Old house borers prefer to attack recently seasoned wood and are typically found in newer homes. Infestations are often introduced in firewood or through the use of lumber that contains eggs or small larvae. Usually, noticeable infestations are limited to a few wood members, however, adjoining sound boards may also be infested by young larvae. Depending on conditions, damage may not be detected until adults emerge three to ten years after the initial infestation. As opposed to most other beetle species, old house borers prefer dry wood containing ten to twelve percent moisture content. Both the adult exit holes and the feeding tunnels of large larvae are oval and about 1/4" in diameter. Galleries near the surface cause lighter colored streaks to appear on the wood surface. The frass is a coarse, tightly packed powder. One typical characteristic of an old house borer infestation is the noise older larvae make while feeding. Often this chewing noise is what will first alert the homeowner that an infestation is present.