powder post beetle in picture frame moulding
A client just returned something I framed 3 years ago because she found "sawdust" on the matting. I opened the backing and found ppbeetles alive and well. How do I treat the frame? Will more beetles emerge? The framed piece is an antique fabric embroidered piece. Will the beetles harm the fabric? Will they spread and contaminate my art studio? What do I do about them?
The frame should be treated like any other piece of wood; either the BORACARE or the JECTA GEL would do a good job of taking care of problem. If it's a small frame, you could opt to use an INSECT STRIP to essentially fumigate the piece whenever sawdust appears. This is very easy to do and effective though not "permanent". It's good for small wood pieces such as wood models, decorative statues and items which are difficult to treat with either Boracare or Jecta Gel.
Basically all you do is take the piece and place it in a zip lock plastic bag that you can make "air tight". Large kitchen or 55 gallon sized bags will work too. Next, you set the Insect Strip in with the piece, seal it up real tight and leave it for 1 week. Insect Strips are used for closets and other small confined areas where they slowly release killing moths and flies. When used in a small air tight area like this they'll work on any kind of wood beetle too. Again, the treatment won't be permanent but it will get larvae and active adults. And in most cases, after 1-2 treatments like this the problem will run it's course and be done. After a week the piece can be removed and placed back out as desired. You can then seal up the Insect Strip to save it should new activity be found. If new activity is found, repeat the process. Since the cycle of these beetles can include long delays between active stages of either larvae or adults, you might have to do a few treatments before complete control is achieved.
One thing is for sure: If the infestation is active, no doubt more beetles will emerge.
And powder post beetles only eat wood so the fabric is not at risk directly from the insects.
Lastly, there is always the risk that any piece of furniture or part of the structure that demonstrates an active powder post beetle problem can lead to other items made of wood getting infested too.
Treat as explained in our POWDERPOST BEETLE CONTROL article. The section on furniture treatments applies to this picture frame.
Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:
Boracare: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page52.html
Jecta Gel: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page156.html
Insect Strips: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page307.html
Powder Post Beetle Control Article: http://www.powderpostbeetles.com/powderpost-beetle-control#furniture_beetle_treatments
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Comments on powder post beetle in picture frame moulding
guest @ 1:34 pm
Bought wood picture frame in Aruba on our honeymoon. Came home and found holes in back of frame and wood dust. Wrapped frame in several bags and waited several weeks. Many dead brown bugs found and one see moving and killed. Wrapped frame back in bags and placed outside in 10 degree weather. Frame sat out in home for week or so. Appears to be powder post beetles from pictures I have seen. Have not seen any holes in furniture, cabinets, doors or frames, or window frames. Should I be worried that they are in my home somewhere? We live in Maryland, do they survive in our environment? Should I have a professional inspection to ensure there is not an infestation even though I am not seeing any visable signs of the bugs or wood dust in my home?
admin @ 1:41 pm
@guest: I wouldn't worry and for now I don't recommend bringing in a professional. Though you don't say the size of this piece, I'm betting it's small since you acquired it while on vacation. This doesn't mean it can't lead to problems down the road if left untreated; it merely means it will take some time for any foraging pests to setup shop based on the fact there probably aren't many of them because of the frame size involved. If it was a couch or other large, big item, it would be a different story.
That being said, I recommend doing something more than just freezing the piece when activity is noted. In fact, I fully expect you'll see more activity since the cold will only kill or slow up active stages and do nothing to the eggs or pupae. If you go with the Insect Strip method of treating explained above, I'm sure you'll get much better results and have a way to deal with the problem no matter what the weather outside. For example, if you start seeing activity this upcoming summer, placing the frame outside would only tend to make it worse. Get it treated if you want to keep the frame and if it's a small item like I suspect it to be, the Insect Strip is probably the most efficient option.