They bore into the sapwood and often the heartwood, tunnelling in all directions. Tunnels, about pinhead width, are often stained black. They do not infest structural or interior wood. Adults can be found in dead wood as well as dried and seasoned lumber. Lyctid powderpost beetles attack hardwoods such as oak, ash, hickory and mahogany found in woodwork, flooring, structural wood, furniture, tool handles and firewood.
Adults can emerge from firewood in the home and infest structural wood or furniture.
Flour or talc-like frass falls out of the exit holes and cracks. Anobiid powderpost beetles attack both hardwoods and softwoods. Most wood-infesting beetles will not reinfest wood that is painted, varnished, waxed or shellacked. Most beetles do not complete the life cycle in wood with a moisture content below 10 to 15 percent. Termites These insects can infest undisturbed piles of damp, unsound, wet firewood stacked on the ground outside.