Page 92 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

DEATHWATCH BEETLE DEATHWATCH BEETLE- LARVAE

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
1.Antenna- enlarged 3 segmented club 6.Thorax
2.Eyes- 2 7.Petiole- none DEATHWATCH BEETLE
3.Head 8.Abdomen- sub-cylindrical 8
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- dark grayish brown
5.Wings- covered, hard elytra 10.Other- mottled appearance 1
Life Cycle
The female lays about 40-60 eggs in clusters in or near the emergence hole. The eggs
hatch in 2-3 weeks, and the larvae will reach almost a half inch in size. The larvae form
a pupal cell, in which the new adults may remain for a long period if conditions are
unfavorable. The life cycle will be completed in anywhere from one to ten years due to 4
this situation where the adults remain in the pupal cell, but it averages about four years.
Adults emerge in the late spring, mate, and then die within a few weeks. Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
DEATHWATCH BEETLE
Actual size 1/3”
This beetle gets its name from the tapping sound it makes as a mating signal. An old superstition said this was
an ominous warning of impending death. The Deathwatch beetle only eats hardwoods that have been attacked
by fungi. This beetle will reinfest structures. They will also attack furniture and books. It is dark grayish brown
and about 1/3rd inch in size.
ROUNDHEADED BORER-DAMAGE ROUNDHEADED BORER-LARVAE

Photo by Brian Rineberg
Corky’s Pest Control Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
1.Antenna- extremely long segmented 6.Thorax
2.Eyes- compound 7.Petiole- none ROUNDHEADED BORER
3.Head 8.Abdomen 2 1
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- grayish brown
5.Wings- covered, hard elytra 10.Other- Scape
(key characteristic for identification)
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid in wood with a high moisture content. The larvae will take 10
from one to several years to develop. Adults emerge from round or oval 4
exit holes in the infested wood, and will not re-enter the same wood to
lay new eggs. Photo by Brian Rineberg
Corky’s Pest Control
ROUNDHEADED BORER
Actual size 1 1/2”
This borer infests structural wood products. It is usually noticed by the exit holes that it leaves. The larvae cause much of
the damage. The adult is about 1½ inches long and has very long antennae, and is grayish-brown in color. Note that Round
Headed, Long Horned, Old House, and New House borers are all from the family Cerambycidae.

92