Replies

1. 
   bobhallsr | Dec 20, 2003 07:30am | #1

   I suspect that those beetles are still chewing away underneath your tung oil.  The surest way to stop them is to have your maple kiln dried.  Get the heat up.  Solar kiln won't do it.  I used to treat these pests by wraping the whole stickered stack in polyethelyene and dumping ethyl acetate into to trays inside of the sealed package.  Ethyl acetate is a no-no these days and I can't get it in the big box stores any more.  I haven't been able to locate a nearby kiln and I'm just hoping that my stack of cherry dries out soon before the ppb get past the sap wood.

   BJ

   Gardening, cooking and woodworking in Southern Maryland
1. 
   Badjeros | Dec 21, 2003 01:22am | #2

   Thank you for your input on these nasty pests.

   I am also intending to consult a local pest control firm for ideas while the cold weather is still here.

   Thanks Again.

1. 
   bobhallsr | Dec 21, 2003 08:23am | #3

   I don't think that the pest control people have anything that will penatrate the wood to get at the ppband not leave an objectionable amount of toxic pesticides on/in the maple.  Only the gaseous fumigants can do that and they have become pretty contrversial.  I doubt that you can get them for your stack of wood.  That is the fortunate part about kiln drying.  No toxics, just clean wood and dead ppb larva and eggs.

   BJ Gardening, cooking and woodworking in Southern Maryland

2. 
   Gretchen | Dec 21, 2003 02:28pm | #4

   Some exterminating companies will put the wood in a house they are going to fumigate.  I don't know if you can but if you can enclose your wood in plastic and fumigate using the aerosol bombs for a number of days.

   You might consult a museum for advice on killing them. I can't recall the museum in Dearborn Michigan, but their curator one time "advertised" a product to apply which would suffocate the larvae.  I cut it out YEARS ago and just saw it "some"where in my stacks of stuff. Will see if I can ressurect it.Gretchen

2. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 24, 2003 02:00am | #8

   Bee Jay -

   Get a bag of Diatomaceous Earth and lightly sprinkle it on the wood surfaces. It is non toxic to humans and pets but deadly on beetles and larve.

   Do a web search to find a retail source.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood

   Edited 12/23/2003 6:03:51 PM ET by PlaneWood

1. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 24, 2003 02:22am | #9

   >> It is ... deadly on beetles and larvae.

   But not to the ones that are already inside the wood.

2. 
   LeeGrindinger | Dec 21, 2003 05:29pm | #5

   The holes you see are exit holes. The particular insect that bored the hole you can see is gone. There is only one type of PPB that likes dry wood, the others live in green wood. It is possible that you have no problems at all if the wood is dry. Clean the sawdust from the lumber and watch for new activity.

   If you're fortunate enough to have the Lyctus Powder Post Beetle there are a couple of things you can do. As stated by others heat is a sure fire way to kill them...140 for at least 48 hours. There are borate compounds like Timbor that kill the beetles as they re-enter the wood as larvae. Applying a paint will also prevent reinfestation since the pores of the wood are covered and the adults have no place to lay their eggs.

   Lee

   http://www.furniturecarver.com
3. 
   Badjeros | Dec 23, 2003 06:09pm | #6

   Thank you for efforts and wisdom. I will continue to monitor this wood and give you an update in the coming days and weeks.

   Once again, Thank You all.

1. 
   DavidxDoud | Dec 23, 2003 06:48pm | #7

   ...update in the coming days and weeks...

   these insects have a seasonal life cycle - - next spring (early May here in zone 5)  will be the next adult emergence - - they mate and then lay eggs on the wood which hatch and the tiny larvae burrow in,  feasting on your fine hardwood,  then pupate,  waiting for the enviromental cue to emerge and mate, ad infinitum - -

   so,  as temperatures warm next year,  watch for the adults,  small gray beetles about 1/8",  this is when your areasol bomb might do some good - -

4. 
   NWTIMBER | Dec 24, 2003 02:52am | #10

   We have in the past used a product called Timbor. We now have switched to Bora-care. If you saturate your lumber with this solution with a sprayer it should take care of your problem. Northwest Timber

5. 
   KMcColly | Dec 26, 2003 05:31am | #11

   I sometime think we tend to worry too much about this insect.  I collected a lot of antique furniture while I was stationed in Germany in the 70's, and almost every piece had holes made by these little criiters.  Some had many, some only had a few.  We used a liquid insecticide that was squirted in the holes and saturated the wood.  That ended the infestation, but left the holes in the collectible.  The common view point among both Germans and the American collectors was that simply added an aura of authenticity and gave the piece personality. 

   This is not to say that all wood should have beetle foxholes in it, just that we shouldn't lose sleep over it when some of it does.

   Ken

1. 
   Gretchen | Dec 27, 2003 12:26am | #12

   It isn't the holes that are the problem. It is bringing an infested piece into your home which will infest your other furniture.Gretchen

6. 
   Badjeros | Dec 29, 2003 12:59am | #13

   Thank you all ever so much for the very helpful advice. I never imagined there would be so much response to my question.

   Once again, I thank you all very much.

7. 
   laggi | Mar 29, 2016 02:21pm | #14

   Microwave Shashel http://powderpost-beetle.com the best way to get rid of woodworms