Page 94 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

OLD HOUSE BORER OLD HOUSE BORER

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
1.Antenna- 1/3 of body length 6.Thorax
2.Eyes- 2 7.Petiole- none OLD HOUSE BORER
3.Head 8.Abdomen- elongate and flattened 8
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- brownish to blackish
5.Wings- covered, hard elytra 10.Other- covered with short hairs 1
Life Cycle
Females lay 150-200 eggs in any cracks or crevices they can find in wood. They especially like
piles of lumber. In 2-3 weeks, the eggs will hatch. The larvae will feed on sapwood where they
remain for 2-10 years, depending upon the moisture content of the wood, completely destroy-
ing whatever they infest. They become pupa for about two weeks. The adults remain in the old 4
larval tunnels for another 7-10 months, emerge, mate, and then quickly die off in two weeks or
less. The life cycle will be completed in 3-10 years. Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
OLD HOUSE BORER
Actual size 1”
This beetle can cause great structural damage, and it will re-infest the same wood after it
emerges. Despite the name, it will be found in old and new housing, and can spread fairly rap-
idly. Normally it is found in attic and roof timbers, but it can also spread to framing and flooring,
going after any softwoods. Females are about an inch long, the males are only half that size.
Both are grayish or brownish black in color. Note that Round Headed, Long Horned, Old House,
and New House borers are all from the family Cerambycidae.

1.Antenna- short, 3 clubbed 6.Thorax-
2.Eyes- 7.Petiole- none KHAPRA BEETLE
3.Head - small, facing downward 8.Abdomen- long and wide
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- reddish brown 5
5.Wings- under elytra 10.Other- covered with short hairs
3
Life Cycle
Adults mate about five days after emergence, and egg laying begins almost immediately. 8
The female lives about a week, during which she lays an average of 50 to 90 eggs that 4
hatch in 3-14 days. Complete development from egg to adult takes from 26 to 220 days,
depending upon temperature. In cooler conditions the larvae can molt but are inactive
and may remain in this state for many years. Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
KHAPRA BEETLE
Actual size 1/10”
The Khapra Beetle is one of the world’s most destructive pests of grain products and seeds. It
thrives in warm, dry climates where populations build rapidly. Males are brown to black, with
females slightly larger (up to 1/10 inch) and lighter in color. The beetle can not fly, and is
th
spread mainly by commerce and trade. It is often found in food storage areas. This species
is a considered to be a dirty feeder, destroying more than it consumes. The larvae do all the
damage. They not only consume the grain, but also contaminate it with body parts, which can
cause human gastrointestinal irritation. While it has worldwide distribution, there have been
several outbreaks in the U.S. Florida has been spared any serious infestations, but California
has been hit twice. Any sign of Khapra Beetles should be immediately reported. It cost $15
million to rid California of the last infestation.

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