Group -
As a retired entomologist working with historic properties and museums over the past 45 years, I've run into your situation quite often, especially when it comes to log structures and outdoor wooden sculptures.
The scenario goes like this:
A wood-boring beetle lays eggs either in the pores of the wood or in checks and cracks. The larvae then tunnel into the wood (usually feeding in the outer, sugary sapwood), pupate just beneath the surface, and then the adult beetle chews its way out,
leaving behind a small hole. Most leave round holes, depending on the type of beetle, The round holes may be small or large in diameter, depending on the type of beetle infesting the wood. Flat-headed wood borers, Cerambycidae, leave oval holes.
Fresh holes are the color of newly-sawn wood. In time, the holes age and become dark. You are picturing dark, old holes.
Then a variety of wasps take advantage of these holes and use the galleries in which to raise their young. They usually provision the galleries with paralyzed insects on which the larvae will feed until maturity. When the adult wasp emerges, it flies
from the hole, finds a mate, and the entire cycle begins again.
A common practice to prevent continuing infestation and possible rot from rainwater entering the holes, is to seal the holes with colored wax. Wax pencils in varying colors are available from any well-stocked hardware store.
Tom Parker
-----Original Message-----
From: 'Oehler, Casey L' via MuseumPests <pestlist@googlegroups.com>
To: pestlist@googlegroups.com <pestlist@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tue, May 16, 2023 7:45 pm
Subject: [PestList] Alaska Wood Boring Pest ID
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