Deathwatch Beetle in Central Washington (Anobiid Beetles).  Wenatchee and Chelan Real Estate Inspection Services

Halloween is coming and it is time for some scary creatures.
                                        
                                          Death Watch

One of the Pests I am on the lookout for here in Chelan, Okanogan and Douglas Counties is the Anobiid beetle, also known as the deathwatch beetle. This beetle is much more common in Western Washington due to higher moisture levels. But it does occur here in Central Washington also.

The Deathwatch Beetle name come from the tapping or ticking sound that can be heard in old buildings on quiet summer nights to attract mates. They were associated with those sleepless and quiet nights known for those who are watching the dead and dying.  So the superstitious was seen as “the death watch”, an omen of impending death.

In Edgar Ellen Poe short story The Tell-Tale Heart the narrator begins to feel uncomfortable and notices a ringing in his ears. As the ringing grows louder, the narrator comes to the conclusion that it is the heartbeat of the old man that he dismembered and stashed under the floorboards. Many believe this may have been a reference to the death watch beetle.

This Beetle often carries a misnomer of the Powder Post Beetle. This is actually a different type of beetle which is classified in the insect subfamily of Lyctinae.

Anobiid beetles most frequently infest older homes that have damp crawl spaces or basements. They thrive best in wood that contains moisture content between 14% and 20%. They prefer softwoods such as fir and pine.

Anobiid larvae will spend 4 to 5 years in the wood feeding.  The larvae pupate into adults in late spring and early summer where they begin to emerge from the wood leaving small circular holes resembling small buckshot.

Here are a few examples from my home inspections.

You can see in this photo the buckshot pattern.
                                                Anobiid Beetle emergence holes Chelan Home Inspection

Here is the powdery frass that came out when I struck the wood framing above with my hammer.
                                               Anobiid Beetle Frass Wenatchee Home Inspection

Stuctural wood destroyed from Anodiid beetle.
Anobiid damage to structural wood -Wenatchee Real Estate Inspection


If an infestation of Anobiid is found the first corrective measure is to address the moisture issue with better ventilation and controlling moisture intrusion. Replacing and removing affected wood is one of the best ways to reduce Anobiid populations. Remove scraps of lumber, such as form boards, from crawlspaces. These insects will not re-infest wooden surfaces that have been painted or varnished.

Chemical treatment such as borates as well as other formulations may be used. The application of these chemicals is most effective when timed for the adult emergence period.


“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair

 

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service


www.ncwhomeinspections.com          509-670-9572


 
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6 Comments on Deathwatch Beetle in Central Washington (Anobiid Beetles).

OCT
21
155,778 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Watch out for that frass. I heldped a friend raise some barn pole framing (logs). It was a warm day so we worked with our shirts off. By the end of the day I was covered in hives that itched like crazy. I thought it was insect bites but it turned out to be a caustic reaction of the chemicals in the frass from (the real) powder post beatles that had been in some of the logs at one time.
6:20am • #1
478,796 Points 59 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Donald,

WOW, another batch of WDO's we need to watch for in your area. I have not seen any of this around here. I hope they are not on the move.

Good find my friend.

Best, Clint McKie
11:49am • #2
292,728 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Robert, I guess I should be carefull with all that frass coming down ; )

 

Clint, They like the moist wood. Have a great day.
5:49pm • #3
OCT
22
974,415 Points 349 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great post Don.  Something I don't think I have ever seen around here before.  Could be I've seen it and not known what it was!
2:50am • #4
292,728 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jay, Thank you. This little bugger really is a problem in Western Washington. But we d o get them here. Found some in yesterdays inspection.
6:45am • #5
OCT
23
567,660 Points 140 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Around here Powder Post Beetle is a catch all for both species. With many older houses constructed of hardwood in CT, Powder Post Beetles are common. 
5:03am • #6


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