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 over powderpost beetles.

Regarding wood-destroying bugs, the usual suspects are termites and carpenter ants. Another common pest that often goes under the radar but enjoys feeding on and destroying wood is the powderpost beetle. This beetle species earned the “powder post” part of its name because the larvae feed on wood, and if given enough time, they can break down the wood until it becomes merely powdery dust.

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

The first step is identifying the pests and ensuring they are powderpost beetles, not insects. Misidentification of the powderpost beetle can lead to using the wrong treatment products, wasting 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 in color from reddish-brown to black. Their protective wings feature distinct pit-like rows, giving them a hardened appearance.
• Powderpost beetles go through several stages similar to a fly or a flea. Starting from an egg, they develop into larvae, pupae, and then adults.
• Powderpost beetle larvae look like your average grub: creamy white with dark brown at the tip. Larvae burrow into wood to transition into 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 woods. While doing so, they push out a fine powdery dust, which is how they get their name. The shape of their holes looks like a tiny pinhole.

Use the description and image above to help you properly identify powderpost beetles. If you are not sure or are having trouble, contact us, and we will try to assist with identification.

Inspection

Once you are certain that you have powderpost beetles, you need to know where this pest is located and if you have an active infestation. During the inspection, you will look for the obvious signs of a powderpost beetle infestation.

Where To Inspect

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

What To Look For

You’re looking for tiny holes or powderpost damage in wood and the beetles. An active infestation of powderpost beetles will be evident when powdered wood from borings is seen 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 by observing the color. New frass and wood dust are a fine sandy color.

A good way to determine whether an infestation is active is to clear the sawdust piles and wait until fall or winter to see if new sawdust accumulates, 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 read all product labels, follow the application instructions on them, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Our top recommendations for powderpost beetle treatment are Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide and Fipro Aerosol. Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide will be used on the pieces of unfinished wood, which should be protected for various years. Fipro Foaming Aerosol will treat active sites where powderpost beetles have burrowed into wood.

Step 1: Wood Treatment with Timbor

Treat infested wood with Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide, an inorganic borate salt-based treatment for wood. It helps prevent further insect damage from wood-destroying insects like powderpost beetles. Calculate the size of the treatment area to determine how much Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide you need.

Apply Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide by brush or spray at 5 gallons of liquid solution per 1000 square feet of wood surface area. Thoroughly wet the wood surface area. The application may also be made by drilling and then injecting the liquid solution under pressure into sound wood or until run-off is observed coming from entry/exit holes of infested wood.

Step 2: Apply Fipro Foaming Aerosol

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 hiding.

To use Fipro Foaming Aerosol, you might have to drill holes to inject this product into the wood, and you 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

You don't want them to return after you have treated and eliminated the powderpost beetle infestation. Prevent powderpost beetles from coming back by implementing the following measures:

• Start by inspecting every new piece of wood you bring into the home. Make sure every piece of furniture or wood has been varnished, waxed, painted, and completely dried, either air-dried or kiln-dried and that there are no high moisture levels inside the wood that will prevent powderpost beetles.
• Also, store all wood products away from barns and sheds, and remember to use new wood when replacing a structural joint in the home.
• Ensuring moisture issues in the home are addressed is extremely important to prevent powderpost beetles. Implementing central heat, dehumidifiers, and good ventilation will reduce moisture in your home and inside the wooden components of your structure.
• Ensuring your wood does not have wood to contact will also reduce moisture levels inside the wood, making it less attractive to powderpost beetles.
• Finally, you can use Tim-Bor Professional 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 try to bore inside.

Key Takeaways

What are Powderpost Beetles?

• Powderpost beetles are damaging wood-boring pests that can infest wood. They lay eggs, and their larvae feed on wood until adulthood. Powderpost beetle damage is similar to termite damage, with the difference that the larvae are most destructive.

How To Get Rid of Powderpost Beetles

• Our top recommendations for powderpost beetle treatment are Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide for unfinished wood treatment and Fipro Foaming for finished wood treatment where the powder post beetle has created galleries or has actively damaged wood.

Preventing Powderpost Beetle Reinfestation

• Prevent powderpost beetle invasions by reducing moisture around the home and applying Tim-Bor Professional Insecticide preventative treatments.