Auger Beetle Details
- 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