The family Bostrichidae Latreille, 1802 also known as the powder-post beetle, is one of the most detrimental pests to seasoned woods. They produce powder-like frass as they bore inside the wood that provides nutrients and protection for growing larvae and mating sites for adults. Ecologically, these beetles function as degrader of dried cellulosic materials that include branches, sapwood of fallen trees and other plant materials. They exist in lower populations in nature, but thrive under the abundance of available food sources such as in sawmills.
Although not commonly known as wood structural destroyers like termites and carpenter ants, continuous and subsequent attack by these beetles may significantly degrade and affect the …show more content…
This includes distribution, natural history, distribution, and control of several well-known species, with emphasize on those found in the North …show more content…
Size is within 1.5 to 50 mm, black with elongate, cylindrical or depresse shape (Ivie, 2002). Larvae are C-shaped (3-20 mm) with cream to dull white color. Differences between the two main groups of bostrichid beetle are summarized in Table 1.
Distribution and Occurrence
The powder-post beetles are commonly found in tropical and sub-tropical region. However, many of the economically important species have achieved cosmopolitan status. Transfer of goods that use wood crates, imported timbers and stored plant products help disperse the powder-post beetles worldwide (Haack, 2006). Bostrichid beetles that are considered as established in North America are as follow:
(i) Heterobostrychus aequalis, Sinoxylon conigerum, S. anale and Xylopsocus capucinus - established in Florida (Ivie, 2002; Peck et al., 1998).
(ii) H. brunneus – California (Ivie, 2002; Peck et al., 1998).
(iii) H. hamatipennis - Florida (Frank and McCoy, 1992; Peck et al., 1998).
(iv) Sinoxylon ceratoniae - California (Ivie,