It's tough to say for sure if there is need for concern or not. This is especially true since you've thrown away all the "evidence". If you watch any of the CSI Crime shows on TV, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Insects make great witnesses and they don't lie. If you had preserved a specimen, it could have been identified. Once identified, we'd know it's habits, what it likes to eat, etc. And with this information we'd be able to make a much more educated prognosis. But now they're gone and without them, no hope of projecting with certainty what might happen.

That being said, it is entirely possible some of the larvae foraged out of the box and into some part of the home. Mind you I'm not trying to make you scared; I'm merely trying to point out this very well could have happened.

And if you would feel more at ease by having someone look the area over, I'm sure you can find a pest control service to come and inspect the space where the ornaments were stored. If larvae crawled into any area close by and started to infest some native wood, there should be signs of activity.

Other than having someone come look to see if there is activity, I don't believe any kind of treatment is warranted for the time being. But the next time you find something that could very well pose a hazard to the structure, I suggest you refrain from discarding it immediately but instead keep it for further inspection purposes.

If you're wanting to treat the bamboo with some BORACARE, this treatment will no doubt help. And you're right; soaking it before it was used in construction would have been ideal but obviously that's not an option at this time. So for now, to get the best treatment possible, I would consider injecting the Boracare inside the bamboo. The FOAM INJECTOR is perfect for this kind of treatment. It will turn the mixed Boracare/water solution into a shaving cream type foam which will ensure the innards of the bamboo gets uniformly covered for better results.

Treating the outside of the bamboo will also help as long as it's not finished with some kind of sealant that would effectively block the Boracare from penetrating.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Boracare:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/boracare-gal

Foam Injector:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/foamers/solo-2-gal-foamer-w12-inj

Thank you.

If you read through our POWDERPOST BEETLE CONTROL ARTICLE, you'll learn the holes you're finding are in fact exit holes. Larvae which have pupated are now drilling their way out so they can seek a mate and reproduce. Females will seek good wood on which to lay eggs. They'll try to do so in a protected area of the wood they choose like under  it's bark, in any cracks they can find or in old exit holes from whence they emerged.

To prevent the cycle from continuing, you'll need to treat with BORACARE. Mind you this treatment will not kill the emerging pupae but it will make the wood "inedible" to any hatching larvae should pregnant females lay eggs on your stock. When done properly, this treatment is much akin to spraying the lumber with water; it will look "wet" for a day but then dry as the treatment is absorbed by the wood and cures. In the end the wood will look as it did before being treated.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Powderpost Beetle Control Article:  http://www.powderpostbeetles.com/powderpost-beetle-control

Boracare:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page52.html

Manzanita trees are susceptible to bark beetles as well as many species of Powder Post Beetles. And if it's stored out in the open, it's more likely to get infested. I suggest you keep it inside to prevent foraging insects from finding it. But if you insist on keeping it outside, treating it with BORACARE will help to keep it mold and insect free.

As explained in our POWDERPOST BEETLE ARTICLE, most all treatments will last a lot longer than one year. Are you sure there is actually any treatment going on or are you really paying for a "contract renewal" of some sort that will cover the cost of a treatment should it be deemed necessary to treat again? I know many companies will offer such annual renewals and most require a good inspection once a year as part of the contract. Find out from the company for sure just what it is they are doing and if you have further questions or concerns, please give us a call on our toll free 1-800-877-7290.