Regarding my earlier post, there seems to be some disagreement about the deathwatch beetle. While I don’t have personal experience with the pest, I have numerous sources and checked with an industry expert to confirm that furniture and deathwatch beetles can infest both hardwoods and softwoods, with exit holes 1/16” to 1/8”. The deathwatch beetle does prefer wood with higher moisture content, which could be possible with furniture left outside most of the year (e.g., potential for water damage). So, I would still consider it a possibility.
But definitely check to see if the activity is current by watching for new exit holes or if fresh frass/sawdust comes out of the wood when you tap it. Dan Wixted Pesticide Management Education Program (PMEP) Cornell University Ph (607) 255-7525 525 Tower Road FAX (607) 255-3075 CALS Surge Facility psep.cce.cornell.edu<http://psep.cce.cornell.edu/> Ithaca, NY 14853 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> From: 'bugman22' via MuseumPests <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2020 7:15 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [PestList] Wood Borer beetle in Cedar Allow me to set the record straight. If it were the Death Watch Beetle, the holes would be very large 1/8" - 3/16". Death Watch Beetle larvae require water damage and fungal decay in order to survive. And they only attack hardwoods - not your situation. In my 45+ years of working with historic properties I've seen an actual infestation of these beetles twice. They are much more common in Europe. Something as old as you have described was probably originally attacked by some sort of powder post beetle infestation, which has long ago died out. As wood ages, the sugars slowly change to starch and will no longer support an infestation of powder post beetles. Your infestation died out decades ago and nothing is required for any sort of chemical treatment or prevention. Tom Parker -----Original Message----- From: Adrienne Dastgir <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Thu, Aug 27, 2020 1:03 pm Subject: [PestList] Wood Borer beetle in Cedar I was contacted about some wood furniture that we have on campus. It sets out side most of the year in our village area. It was moved into storage because work is going to be done on that area. It was discovered that something is eating the wood. The wood is Eastern Read Cedar. Some parts of the wood were treated but not all. The wood was from down cedar trees that we have on our campus and furniture was made out of the wood. To date 1700s time period. The holes are tiny. My guess was the Powerpost Beetle but the fact sheets said that it primarily feeds on hard wood. My other guess was Furniture beetle because it feeds on both types of woods. We are yet to see one. Sticky traps have been set to see if we can catch what every it is. What else could it be ? what are some ways of treating the wood so it will not be damaged and they will not re-infest when it placed in our door area. We do not have freeze that it will fit in. CO2 it would only kill what is on the wood now and when placed back outside it could be re-infested. what are some ways of treating the wood so it will not be damaged and they will not re-infest when it placed in our door area. Adrienne Dastgir Curator of Collections W: (580) 622-7156 Ex. 65078 Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Chickasaw Cultural Center 867 Charles Cooper Memorial Drive Sulphur, OK | 73086 [CCC logo] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/274a4588a8f342e0a692833c66aced95%40chickasaw.net<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/274a4588a8f342e0a692833c66aced95%40chickasaw.net?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/631584314.142097.1598570105757%40mail.yahoo.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/631584314.142097.1598570105757%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/MN2PR04MB5998D8766769765B0B40C960AF520%40MN2PR04MB5998.namprd04.prod.outlook.com.
