False Powder Post Beetle Facts

• Alternative names: False or large powder post beetles, bamboo borers and lead-cable borers
• Size: Adults range from 1/8 to 1/4 inch in size
• Color: Reddish brown to black
• Appearance: Hood-like feature that obscures their heads when viewed from above.

False Powder Post Beetle Behavior

Powder post beetles make up a group of over thirty-five wood boring beetle species known to infest homes in the United States. Wood boring beetles, after termites, cause the most wood damage in homes, depending on various factors including the hardness and type of wood, the timber’s moisture content and all environmental conditions affecting infested homes. Because most powder post beetles may already be developing inside wood when the wood is installed in new homes, powder post beetles can be difficult to detect until you notice tiny holes and small, sawdust piles called “frass” in your home or in furniture.