Grape Vine Decoration beetles

[NickHubbell]

I purchased a sanded grape vine decoration for use in my gecko setup. I noticed several small black beetles (1/4 inch) with tear drop heads flying around the setup. Today, I noticed holes and dust on the grapevine wood.

Anyone know what these might be and will they do damage to my house?

Will soaking the wood in bleach for a few weeks kill the larva?

I will try to get a photo on the beetles when they sit still long enough.

Thanks

 

[cephalotus88]

Those beetles are easily killed with bleach. I have had them also, didn't really do much, just at some holes into nearby nepenthes.

 

[NickHubbell]

Thanks!

I think I have them all killed now. I had seen 4 moving around but noticed 13+ holes. I wasn't very thrilled to have wood boring beetles in a solid wood panel room.

I soaked the wood in a bleach solution for about 30 minutes and noticed two beetles tried to escape but died before they could make it out of the holes. Next, I put the grapevine in the oven at 400°F for 30 minutes. This also seemed to drive 3 more beetles out. This time, they got baked before they could escape. Now, the entire grapevine is in the freezer.

I do have 3 beetles in alcohol for photographing later. These either were flying around in my setup or ones that drowned in the bleach solution.

I do think they are all dead now.

 

[NickHubbell]

I just found a photo on the web of the same beetle. I have False Powderpost Beetles and I really hope they have not gotten out into this room. The panels are 40 year old pine these things appear to be able to go through it like butter. I am going to try and return this product as its less than 30 days old.

Image and information on the beetle can be found here: http://www.hydrexheat.com/pests/falsepowderpost.html

 

[Spectabilis73]

Quote[/b] (NickHubbell @ Mar. 01 2004,04:44)]Thanks!

I think I have them all killed now. I had seen 4 moving around but noticed 13+ holes. I wasn't very thrilled to have wood boring beetles in a solid wood panel room.

I soaked the wood in a bleach solution for about 30 minutes and noticed two beetles tried to escape but died before they could make it out of the holes. Next, I put the grapevine in the oven at 400°F for 30 minutes. This also seemed to drive 3 more beetles out. This time, they got baked before they could escape. Now, the entire grapevine is in the freezer.

I do have 3 beetles in alcohol for photographing later. These either were flying around in my setup or ones that drowned in the bleach solution.

I do think they are all dead now.

careful now! beetles can hybernate, one time i had put one of those pots of mealworms int he freezer. it still ha done beetle. well, when i took them out 3 days later, the mealworms were dead, but that beetle was alive! it jumped out, but before it got under the closest rug, SPLAT! lol
-Spec