Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- Anobiid Beetles
By Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector
(King of the House Home Inspection, Inc.)
One of the wood destroying insects in Bellingham, Whatcom county and this region is the anobiid beetle. The tiny adult beetle, as small or smaller than a grain of rice, lays an egg. That egg turns to larvae and the larvae crawls into the wood and feeds for five or more years. When the insect pupates and exits, it leaves a small exit hole, shot-sized and a gritty frass remains behind. When this damage is found, people buying homes are hoping for the best and they always ask the inspector if it is possible that maybe the insect is gone so they do not have to worry about it. Sometimes it can be hard to answer that question one way or the other. Other times it is all too obvious that the pest is active. Take the photo below. See all of that fine frass streaking down from the exit holes? Al...
Comments
13