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Wood boring beetles are insects that damage trees and wood products. The adult beetles lay eggs to overwinter in trees or wood. The larvae (caterpillar stage) feed on the newly formed wood under bark (sapwood) and water in the tree before emerging as adults. Some may tunnel into the center of trees (heartwood). They may be metallic colored.
Most wood borers do not harm healthy trees, but instead look for damaged or stressed trees. If not controlled, they can destroy entire forests. Different types of beetles may prefer certain types of trees over others.
Trees may exhibit damage that indicate a specific beetle. Some may leave different shaped and sized holes in wood, scars, or powder outside of infested trees.
The best way to limit damage from wood borers is to prevent infestation. Sometimes, trees are removed from infested areas to prevent further spread of the insects.
To protect trees:
To protect indoor wood products:
If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email us at npic@ace.orst.edu.
Through its county agents, the Cooperative Extension Service gives individuals access to the resources at land-grant universities across the nation. These universities are centers for research in many subjects, including entomology (the study of insects) and agriculture. Each county within the United States has an Extension office, which is staffed with agents who work closely with university-based Extension specialists to deliver answers to your questions about gardening, agriculture, and pest control. You can find the phone number for your local county extension office in the local government section (often marked with blue pages) of your telephone directory or by clicking on the map below.
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