How To Get Rid Of Powderpost Beetles
Getting rid of powderpost beetles on your own can be challenging because these wood-boring beetles infest deep inside wood surfaces, but it is possible with diligence and the right approach. Here are the most effective DIY methods for homeowners or business owners to get rid of powderpost beetles:
Identify the Infestation
Before beginning treatment, confirm that you are dealing with powderpost beetles:
Look for tiny round exit holes (1/16–1/8 inch) in wood surfaces.
Check for fine, talcum-like sawdust (frass) near the holes.
Note that activity usually occurs in unfinished hardwoods, such as flooring, trim, furniture, and structural beams.
If the frass looks fresh and light-colored, the infestation is still active.
Remove and Replace Infested Wood
If the damage is localized and limited, physically removing the infested wood is the most direct and reliable method.
Cut out and dispose of heavily infested boards or sections.
Replace them with kiln-dried or treated lumber to prevent re-infestation.
This is often the best solution for furniture, small trim pieces, or lightly infested flooring.
Reduce Moisture Levels
Powderpost beetles thrive in moist, humid environments. Reducing humidity makes the wood less hospitable and stops future generations.
Use dehumidifiers to keep humidity below 13%.
Improve ventilation in attics, crawl spaces, and basements.
Seal any leaks or damp areas near wood.
Moisture control is one of the most important long-term preventive measures.
Apply a Borate-Based Treatment
For accessible, unfinished wood, borate treatments (such as Bora-Care or Tim-bor) are highly effective.
Borates penetrate into the wood and kill both larvae and adults.
They also act as a preventative barrier against future infestations.
Apply the solution with a brush or sprayer, following manufacturer directions.
Borate products work best on bare wood. If the surface is painted, varnished, or sealed, sand or strip it first to allow penetration.
Heat or Freeze Treatments (for Furniture or Small Items)
Powderpost beetles cannot survive extreme temperatures.
Heat Treatment: Expose items to 120–140°F for at least 6 hours (some require 24 hours depending on thickness).
Freezing Treatment: Place smaller objects in a deep freezer at 0°F for 72 hours.
These methods are ideal for smaller infested furniture or decorative wood items.
Seal Finished Surfaces
Once treated and dried, seal the wood with paint, varnish, or polyurethane.
This prevents adults from laying new eggs on the surface.
It also helps lock in any residual insecticide from borate treatment.
Monitor for Ongoing Activity
After treatment:
Continue inspecting wood surfaces for new holes or fresh frass over several months.
If you still see new signs, retreat the area or consider professional inspection for hidden infestations.
Avoid surface-only sprays (like aerosol insecticides). They won’t penetrate deep enough to reach larvae inside the wood. Patience is key — larvae can remain inside wood for months or even years before emerging, so monitoring is essential.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Powderpost Beetles
Our professional pest control is the best way to get rid of powderpost beetles because our licensed experts have the training, equipment, and treatment options needed to eliminate infestations that extend deep inside wood—something that DIY methods often cannot fully achieve. These beetles live and feed beneath the surface, which makes them difficult to detect and nearly impossible to eradicate without specialized tools and materials. Here’s why our professional treatments are more effective:
Accurate Identification and Assessment
Powderpost beetles are often mistaken for other wood-boring insects such as carpenter ants or termites. Our professional pest control technicians:
Correctly identify the beetle species, which determines the best treatment type.
Assess the infestation’s extent, locating affected wood—including hidden structural areas that homeowners may overlook.
Accurate diagnosis ensures the right approach from the start, preventing wasted time and money on ineffective DIY solutions.
Access to Specialized Treatments
Our professionals can apply industrial-grade materials and methods that are not available to the public. Some of the most effective include:
Fumigation (whole-structure treatment): Kills all life stages—including larvae buried deep in the wood—by filling the space with a targeted gas such as sulfuryl fluoride (e.g., Vikane). This is the only proven way to completely eradicate large, active infestations.
Pressure or Injection Treatments: Technicians inject insecticides or borate solutions directly into wood galleries to reach hidden larvae.
Kiln or Heat Treatments: For furniture or reclaimed lumber, controlled heat kills beetles and eggs uniformly throughout the wood.
These treatments ensure total penetration—something surface sprays or household borates can’t achieve on their own.
Professional-Grade Borate Applications
While homeowners can use borate-based products like Bora-Care, our professionals know how to achieve deep and uniform coverage:
We apply the right concentration and saturation level for the wood’s porosity.
We use specialized sprayers and injection systems to ensure the material reaches the larvae.
We can also pair borate treatment with moisture management strategies, extending long-term protection against reinfestation.
This level of precision ensures long-lasting results.
Prevention and Structural Protection
We don't just treat the problem—we help protect your property from future infestations. Our professionals:
Identify moisture sources and recommend ventilation or dehumidification improvements.
Seal entry points and vulnerable surfaces, such as unfinished wood in attics or crawl spaces.
Provide preventative maintenance plans, including annual inspections to ensure new beetle activity doesn’t occur.
This proactive approach safeguards both the property and the investment.
Safety and Compliance
Our professional pest control treatments are applied under strict safety and environmental guidelines. Our experts are trained to:
Use regulated materials safely and legally.
Prevent contamination of indoor air, furnishings, or food-handling areas.
Protect occupants and pets during and after treatment.
This ensures effective eradication without endangering human health or damaging property.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Our professional services prevent:
Ongoing damage from untreated larvae.
The need for costly repairs or wood replacement later.
Recurrent infestations from surviving beetles or untreated areas.
In the long run, our professional intervention saves significant time, money, and frustration.
Our professional pest control is the most reliable, thorough, and lasting solution for powderpost beetles because we combine precise identification, advanced treatment technologies, and long-term prevention strategies. DIY methods can help with minor infestations, but when larvae are buried deep within wood or the damage spreads through structural components, our trained pest management experts can ensure total eradication and lasting protection.