Wood Destroying Insects Potentially Important to a

Violin Maker

Ben Stinner, Ph.D.

The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center (OARDC)

Wooster, OH

[From materials developed by D. J. Shetlar, OSU Extension, October ‘02]

Common Wood Destroying Insects

Termites

Carpenter Ants

Powderpost Beetles

Longhorn Beetles

Flatheaded Borers

Wood-boring Weevils

Termites

Subterranean

Dampwood

Drywood

Major destroyers of wood and wood product materials. Normally associated with buildings, but can also infest wood that has been stored for some time. There are three basic kinds of termites:

Isoptera(termites)

[social insects, winged reproductives with both wings same size and membranous; straight or curved antennae consists of beadlike segments; abdomen broadly joined to thorax; no cerci; chewing mouthparts]

Ant or Termite?

Figure 3-5

Termites are sometimes called “white ants” because they are ant-like in form. Termites differ in antenna form and having a broad waist.

Subterranean termite colonies live in the soil from which they construct exploratory tubes in search of wood.

Termite Swarming is usually the first evidence of an infestation noticed by most people.

Drywood Termites Can live in dry, sound wood

Usually tropical and subtropical

Kick out characteristic fecal pellets

Subterranean (left), Drywood (right)

Drywood Termite Fecal Pellets

Carpenter Ants

Camponotus

Figure 3-9

Carpenter Ants build nests in wood, they don’t eat it!

Carpenter Ant Damage

Carpenter ants need water

Usually build nests in damp or partially rotted wood, but can extend their nests into sound wood

Keep lumber dry and properly stacked.

Powder Post BeetlesThree Families

Lyctids Bostrichids Anobiids

The main sign of powderpost beetles is powdery sawdust.

Powderpost beetles turn wood to dust!

Lyctid powderpost beetles:

Attack sapwoodAttack hardwoods only, rarely mapleRequire 8% to 32% moisture

Anobiid powderpost beetles:

Prefer old woods, 10-20 years old!Attack hardwoods and softwoods including mapleRequire 13% to 30% moisture

Wood-boring weevil, Hexarthum:

Frass looks like powderpost beetlesAttack hardwoods, including mapleRequire high wood moistures, often wet!

Wood-boring Beetle Management

Detect early! (regularly inspect - powder)

Keep lumber at less than 5% moisture

Keep lumber off of moist floors or ground

Resaw to remove sapwood

Don’t purchase infested lumber & destroy lumber that becomes infested

Fumigate high cost lumber (professionals only!)