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Changes in Wood Processing and Use Have Influenced the Likelihood of Beetle Infestations in Seasoned Wood

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Fewer houses are being built with crawl spaces and more houses have central heating and air-conditioning, so the number of anobiid beetle infestations should decline. The likelihood of lyctid infestations in domestic hardwoods has been decreased by improved processing and marketing, but increased imports of tropical hardwoods likely will increase the frequency of infestations. More imports of unseasoned hardwood crates, pallets, and dunnage also may increase the probability of bostrichid infestations. Incidence of infestations by old house borers probably will change little. Trends in wood use suggest the present nationwide incidence of wooddestroying beetle infestations in structures ranks: anobiids, lyctids, old house borers, and bostrichids. Bankings of anobiids and lyctids, however, probably will be reversed in the near future. Lyctids already create the greatest replacement expense.

Keywords

wood-destroying beetles, anobiid beetles, bostrichid beetles, lyctid beetles

Citation

Williams, Lonnie H. 1980. Changes in Wood Processing and Use Have Influenced the Likelihood of Beetle Infestations in Seasoned Wood. Gen. Tech. Rep. SO-28. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 10 p.
Citations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/2382