Bugs attacking my hickory vanity

[stanmillnc]

I've got a hickory vanity that was built 7+ years ago and it's just now got a bug infestation. I can hear them inside the wood chewing away and there are ~1/4" diameter holes in the face of the cabinet. Initially thought powder post beetles, but these holes look bigger. The hickory was not kiln dried, but air dried down to 10% or so when I built it. No bugs for years until now.

Could they have been dormant in the wood since it didn't go through a proper sterilization cycle? Did they infest this wood from another piece in my house (I do have hickory elsewhere and heat with firewood in the winter). I treated it with BoraCare, but I'm afraid it's too late.

[doc henderson]

any pics?

[Texas Ranger]

common furniture beetle or common house borer (Anobium punctatum)?

[stanmillnc]

 





 

[WDH]

Could they have been dormant in the wood since it didn't go through a proper sterilization cycle?

Yes.

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

Here is a possible explanation.  Some of the holes are preexisting insect damage.  Other holes are new from a present population of insects.  The earlier holes are larger as they were from insects that like wetter wood.  The new holes with powder coming out are powderpost beetles, possibly the second generation or more, and are smaller in size.

Is there a finish on the wood?

[Stephen1]

 

[stanmillnc]

Yes, there is a coat of polyurethane on the wood. I applied a heavy dose of 'Boracare' directly into the holes and sprayed the entire vanity down with insect killer. This seems to have stopped the current activity, but I'm worried about future infestations...

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

The insect can survive for two years in the wood making tunnels before they exit and mate.  The female cannot lay eggs on wood surfaces that have poly on them...she needs nooks and crannies.  

[Brad_bb]