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Wharf Borers (Nacerda melanura)
Wharf borers are wood-boring beetles whose larvae develop exclusively in water-saturated, decaying wood, making them pests primarily in docks, wharves, wooden seawalls, and any structural wood in contact with moist soil or water. Their presence is an indicator of serious moisture damage and wood decay in a structure. Controlling wharf borers requires addressing the underlying moisture and wood decay problem — replacing or treating affected wood and improving drainage — as insecticides alone cannot resolve an active structural infestation.