Wood Destroying Insects Potentially Important to a Violin Maker
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Transcript of Wood Destroying Insects Potentially Important to a Violin Maker
Wood Destroying Insects Potentially Important to a
Violin Maker
Ben Stinner, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center (OARDC)
Wooster, OH
[From materials developed by D. J. Shetlar, OSU Extension, October ‘02]
Common Wood Destroying Insects
Termites
Carpenter Ants
Powderpost Beetles
Longhorn Beetles
Flatheaded Borers
Wood-boring Weevils
Termites
Subterranean
Dampwood
Drywood
Major destroyers of wood and wood product materials. Normally associated with buildings, but can also infest wood that has been stored for some time. There are three basic kinds of termites:
Isoptera(termites)
[social insects, winged reproductives with both wings same size and membranous; straight or curved antennae consists of beadlike segments; abdomen broadly joined to thorax; no cerci; chewing mouthparts]
Ant or Termite?
Figure 3-5
Termites are sometimes called “white ants” because they are ant-like in form. Termites differ in antenna form and having a broad waist.
Subterranean termite colonies live in the soil from which they construct exploratory tubes in search of wood.
Termite Swarming is usually the first evidence of an infestation noticed by most people.
Drywood Termites Can live in dry, sound wood
Usually tropical and subtropical
Kick out characteristic fecal pellets
Subterranean (left), Drywood (right)
Drywood Termite Fecal Pellets
Carpenter Ants
Camponotus
Figure 3-9
Carpenter Ants build nests in wood, they don’t eat it!
Carpenter Ant Damage
Carpenter ants need water
Usually build nests in damp or partially rotted wood, but can extend their nests into sound wood
Keep lumber dry and properly stacked.
Powder Post BeetlesThree Families
Lyctids Bostrichids Anobiids
The main sign of powderpost beetles is powdery sawdust.
Powderpost beetles turn wood to dust!
Lyctid powderpost beetles:
Attack sapwoodAttack hardwoods only, rarely mapleRequire 8% to 32% moisture
Anobiid powderpost beetles:
Prefer old woods, 10-20 years old!Attack hardwoods and softwoods including mapleRequire 13% to 30% moisture
Wood-boring weevil, Hexarthum:
Frass looks like powderpost beetlesAttack hardwoods, including mapleRequire high wood moistures, often wet!
Wood-boring Beetle Management
Detect early! (regularly inspect - powder)
Keep lumber at less than 5% moisture
Keep lumber off of moist floors or ground
Resaw to remove sapwood
Don’t purchase infested lumber & destroy lumber that becomes infested
Fumigate high cost lumber (professionals only!)