What Insects Drill Holes in Wood?

Beetles

• Powderpost beetles include a few different species, such as Anobiidae and Lyctidae, that drill into wood. The adult female lays her eggs in the cracks and holes of a wood piece, with the larvae that hatch drilling tunnels through the wood to feed on the material. When fully developed, the adult beetle will bore an exit hole, with this typically the only sign of a powderpost beetle infestation.

Ants

• Carpenter ants drill into wood to make a nest. They typically prefer moist, decaying wood as a starting point, although once established they will drill holes into drier, sound wood to extend a nest. Colonies typically have more than one nesting location, including a parent colony housing the queen and workers, and satellite colonies housing only workers. Carpenter ants typically live in forested areas, making their nests in trees. However, they may also target properties, and with up to 50,000 insects in a typical colony they can inflict extensive damage on a building.

Bees

• Carpenter bees lead a relatively solitary life, with the insect making its nest in the wood of trees, buildings, and other wooden structures. The adult bees typically drill a tunnel of around two inches directly into the wood, before turning through 90 degrees and completing a longer tunnel of up to six inches. Successive generations of bees may extend the existing tunnels each year, resulting in extensive damage over time. The female lays her eggs in the tunnels, and adult male and female bees shelter in the tunnels during the winter months.

Termites

• The diet of subterranean termites includes wood, as well as other materials that contain cellulose, such as paper and fabrics. They need moisture to survive, and typically live in damp underground soil or moist, decaying wood. Subterranean termites drill into and feed on wood structures that come into contact with the ground, although they also construct mud tunnels, enabling them to gain access to wood at higher levels. Drywood termites typically spend their lives inside sound wood. This termite species drills tunnels through wood to create a nest for the colony, as well as to feed.

Moths

• The larvae of a few species of clearwing moth, including redbelted and western poplar clearwing, bore holes into wood. Female moths typically lay eggs in cracks in the bark of trees, such as willow, ash, and pine, with the larvae that emerge boring tunnels into the wood to feed and mature. The adult moth then bores an exit hole to free itself from the tree.