Insect Damage
Subterranean
termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood in the
United States. They cause more than $2 billion in damage each
year: more property damage than is caused by fire and windstorm
combined. Several species of subterranean termites are found
in the United States; they live in every state except Alaska.
Carpenter ants damaged wood by hollowing it out for nesting.
Their excavated galleries in the wood have a smooth, sandpapered
appearance. Wood which has been damaged by carpenter ants
contains no mud-like material, as is the case with termites.
Shredded fragments of wood, similar in appearance to coarse sawdust,
are ejected from the galleries through preexisting cracks or slits
made by the ants.
Powderpost beetles are so called because in high numbers they
are able to turn the inside of a piece of wood into nothing more
than a mass of fine powder. These wood destroying beetles
can do significant damage to log homes, furniture, wood floors
and structural timbers in your home. Powderpost beetles
are small (1/8 inches) and the adult beetles are seldom seen.
Most of the life cycle is spent in the grub or larvae stage eating
wood. Damage is done by the larvae as they create narrow,
meandering tunnels in wood as they feed.
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