Wood Bugs in Michigan

Powder Post Beetles

• Powder post beetles eat dry wood. These insects are small, generally a fifth of an inch long. There are three families of the powder post beetles, and each likes different types of wood. These beetles are damaging and like to eat wood that is on the sides of houses, as well as furniture and paneling. Tunneling in the wood may indicate their presence.

Asian Longhorn Beetle

• The Asian longhorn beetle came from China. This beetle causes a lot of damage. It is bullet shaped and it large, up to about 1.5 inches. The beetle is shiny black color with white spots. It gets into the vascular system of a tree and kills it.

Emerald Ash Borer

• The emerald ash borer is a metallic colored wood beetle that can be hard to spot but is destroying trees throughout Michigan. These beetles are most likely to infest ash trees. They lay their eggs under the bark of the tree. After the eggs hatch, the larvae start to bore into the tree and kill it. These beetles spread rapidly.

Termites

• Termites are also a threat in Michigan. These insects have wings and generally form colonies in the wood of a home. It is important to get rid of termites early to limit damage.