Auger Beetle

• A fine powdery frass will accompany an active infestation - perfectly round holes will appear as the adult bores in or out
• Emergence will occur as the timber dries out and is often within 12 months of timber going into service
• Minor damage is not a cause for concern and emergence holes can be filled and refinished
• Cylindrical, thickset 3 - 20 mm
• Cowl shaped prothorax
• In some species rear end sharply truncated sometimes with spines
• Antennae with a 3 segmented club
• Heavily infested timber with a large proportion of sapwood can be severely damaged as larval activity will reduce it to powder; such timber should be replaced if possible
• All damaged timber in exposed situations, such as decks, should be replaced as the sapwood will rapidly decay
• Occasionally the cylindrical auger beetle may bore into CCA treated hardwood poles
• The moisture attracts the beetles and the CCA treatment may not kill the adults as they are excavating egg chambers, not feeding
• If larvae hatch and feed on the treated sapwood they will die and as the pole dries out the adults will lose interest

Auger Beetle - Heterobostrychus aequalis