Wood Borers vs. Termites: Which is Destroying Your Furniture?

Identifying the Culprit Behind the Sawdust

You’ve noticed small holes in your wooden furniture or a fine yellowish powder accumulating underneath it. Your valuable woodwork is under attack, but is it termites or wood borers (powderpost beetles)? Correct identification is crucial for effective treatment.

The Wood Borer (Powderpost Beetle)

Wood borers are beetles whose larvae feed on wood. They lay eggs in the pores of unfinished wood. When the larvae hatch, they tunnel through the wood for months or even years. When they mature into adult beetles, they chew their way out.

• The Clues: Perfectly round, tiny exit holes (about the size of a pinhead).
• The Residue: A very fine, talcum-like powder (frass) that accumulates beneath the holes.

The Termite

Termites are social insects that live in colonies. Subterranean termites come from the soil, while drywood termites live entirely inside the wood they consume.

• The Clues: Mud tubes on walls (subterranean), hollow-sounding wood, and rippled or blistered paint.
• The Residue: Drywood termite frass consists of hard, six-sided pellets (resembling coffee grounds or sand), unlike the fine powder of the borer.

Treatment Solutions

Wood borers are typically treated by injecting specialized chemicals directly into the exit holes and treating the raw wood surfaces. Termites require a much more extensive treatment involving barrier creation and colony eradication.

If your wooden assets are under threat, call Jas Pest Control for an expert assessment and targeted treatment to save your furniture before it crumbles.