What do bostrichid powderpost beetles look like?

• Size: As adults, bostrichid powderpost beetles are usually approximately 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch long.
• Color: The color of bostrichid powderpost beetles can vary. Common colors include reddish-brown and black.
• Characteristics: Bostrichid powderpost beetles have a cylindrical body that appears somewhat flattened. Their heads are bent downward and not visible when viewed from above; they also have rough or bumpy areas behind their heads.

What do bostrichid powderpost beetles eat?

The larvae of bostrichid powderpost beetles primarily feed on and infest newly processed hardwoods with high starch and moisture contents. They often prefer tropical hardwoods, especially bamboo.

Life Cycle of Bostrichid Powderpost Beetles

The average life cycle from egg to adult is typically completed in one year.

Eggs

Both the larvae and adults damage wood since adult female beetles bore directly into the wood to lay their eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae tunnel further into the wood to feed, mature, and complete their development into adults.

Adults

In the early spring, adults emerge from the infested wood by boring round exit holes. Most bostrichid adult beetles do not reinfest the wood they emerged from, and wood damage is limited to what is caused in the first year of an infestation.