It continues feeding and growing to maturity when it burrows toward the surface and pupates. The adult emerges from the pupa and continues the tunnel to the surface. Adults leave the wood, mate, and then the females return to lay eggs. Exit holes and sawdust from beetles burrowing out are often the first symptom noticed. Depending on the type of powder post beetle and the species, the life cycle may range from three months to two or more years.
Some species are specific as to the types of wood they infest, while others are general feeders.
However, they usually are either hardwood or softwood feeders. The first step to management is deciding if there is an active infestation, or if you are seeing old damage. In an active infestation look for borings accumulating in piles near holes or on the floor below, beetles crawling on the wood, or you may hear a ticking sound that is made by some larvae. If there is no active infestation, treatment is not needed. For small infestations removal of the infested item or replacement of infested wood may be all that is needed.