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Lyctid Powder Post Beetles (Lyctidae)
Lyctid powder post beetles are the most commonly encountered wood-boring beetles in the U.S., infesting the sapwood of seasoned hardwood lumber, flooring, furniture, and crafts by boring tiny round holes and filling them with a fine, talcum-like powder. They require wood with a high starch content and attack hardwoods like oak, ash, and hickory but not softwoods. Active infestations in structural wood require professional fumigation or surface treatment with residual insecticides to prevent ongoing damage.