Pest Control - Bugs eating my furniture

Author

Bugs eating my furniture

Josh

2006-08-23, 8:25 pm

Browsing through a few previous posts on this group, the replies seem
very knowledgeable and helpful. I'm hoping someone can help me out
here.

Last night, I glanced behind my wood-frame futon and saw three small
piles of sawdust. Upon further inspection, I noticed three
corresponding small holes (about the size of a BB) in one plank of the
frame. I immediately thought "Great, termites". I sprayed a bunch of
Ortho Home Defense Max on the plank and surrounding areas, and in the
holes. Then this morning, there were 2 new holes with sawdust piles.
So I sprayed again. Finally, a dying bug fell out of one of the holes,
and I picked it up with a tissue. It's not quite like anything I've
seen before. I looked at a bunch of pictures of termites and it
doesn't really look like them. For one thing, it's black. The wings
are also tight against the body, not spread out at all. What is this
thing?

Some background: I've only been living in this apartment for 2 months.
It's a new renovation in an old building, first floor. The building
has a considerable roach population, which I've seen in full force in
neighbor's apartments. I've been doing everything I can to control
them - traps, bombs, sprays, plus being really obsessive about cleaning
and not leaving food out. I still see one every day or two. (Not sure
if any of this is relevant. Is there a breed of cockroach that eats
wood like this?) The futon is brand new. The wood is all stained,
sealed pine.

I'm hoping for advice on what this bug might be and what I should do
about it. Should I get the landlord involved? Can I seal the holes up
with something? The speed with which the sawdust started appearing was
startling. Is this evidence of a large infestation?

I have pictures of the sawdust piles, the holes, and this dead bug,
which I will happily forward if it will help. And I really appreciate
any advice anyone has to offer.
Thanks,
Josh

Lar

2006-08-24, 3:25 am

In article <1156374394.953907.15990@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>,
jbedell2@gmail.com says...

Browsing through a few previous posts on this group, the replies seem

very knowledgeable and helpful. I'm hoping someone can help me out

here.

Last night, I glanced behind my wood-frame futon and saw three small

piles of sawdust. Upon further inspection, I noticed three

corresponding small holes (about the size of a BB) in one plank of the

frame. I immediately thought "Great, termites". I sprayed a bunch of

Ortho Home Defense Max on the plank and surrounding areas, and in the

holes. Then this morning, there were 2 new holes with sawdust piles.

So I sprayed again. Finally, a dying bug fell out of one of the holes,

and I picked it up with a tissue. It's not quite like anything I've

seen before. I looked at a bunch of pictures of termites and it

doesn't really look like them. For one thing, it's black. The wings

are also tight against the body, not spread out at all. What is this

thing?

Some background: I've only been living in this apartment for 2 months.

It's a new renovation in an old building, first floor. The building

has a considerable roach population, which I've seen in full force in

neighbor's apartments. I've been doing everything I can to control

them - traps, bombs, sprays, plus being really obsessive about cleaning

and not leaving food out. I still see one every day or two. (Not sure

if any of this is relevant. Is there a breed of cockroach that eats

wood like this?) The futon is brand new. The wood is all stained,

sealed pine.

I'm hoping for advice on what this bug might be and what I should do

about it. Should I get the landlord involved? Can I seal the holes up

with something? The speed with which the sawdust started appearing was

startling. Is this evidence of a large infestation?

I have pictures of the sawdust piles, the holes, and this dead bug,

which I will happily forward if it will help. And I really appreciate

any advice anyone has to offer.

Thanks,

Josh

Nothing says it better than a picture...should be able to post them on
one of the binary nature newsgroups..or feel free to email them.

If the insect was a type of beetle and the saw dust is like a fine
powder it probably infested the wood where it was harvested and has just
survived the process turning it into furniture. If the piece is small
enough, just taking it outside and wrapping it in black plastic and
leave it in the sun a couple of hours should kill anything in it. If the
debris piles are small "pellets" and the wings on the insects are on the
clear side it could be drywood termites, the sun treatment should work
with them too. Wouldn't think the landlord would need to be involved.
--
Lar

It is said that the early bird gets the worm,
but it is the second mouse that gets the cheese.

Josh

2006-08-24, 3:25 am

Lar,
Thanks for the reply. I sent you the pics in an email but it bounced
back. I need your address. Please post here or email me at
jbedell2@gmail.com.

Thanks again,
-Josh

Lar

2006-08-24, 3:25 am

In article <1156390420.588354.237640@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
jbedell2@gmail.com says...

Lar,

Thanks for the reply. I sent you the pics in an email but it bounced

back. I need your address. Please post here or email me at

jbedell2@gmail.com.

Thanks again,

-Josh

larflu@comcast.net
--
Lar

to email get rid of the BUGS

Glenda

2006-09-21, 5:25 pm

Didn't you say the furniture was new? Try to return it for a piece that
might not have the same infestation which is most likely powder post
beetles. The black plastic bag trick may possibly work, if not, try a pest
control company that is licensed for fumigation.
Dennis
"Josh" <jbedell2@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1156374394.953907.15990@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> Browsing through a few previous posts on this group, the replies seem
> very knowledgeable and helpful. I'm hoping someone can help me out
> here.
>
> Last night, I glanced behind my wood-frame futon and saw three small
> piles of sawdust. Upon further inspection, I noticed three
> corresponding small holes (about the size of a BB) in one plank of the
> frame. I immediately thought "Great, termites". I sprayed a bunch of
> Ortho Home Defense Max on the plank and surrounding areas, and in the
> holes. Then this morning, there were 2 new holes with sawdust piles.
> So I sprayed again. Finally, a dying bug fell out of one of the holes,
> and I picked it up with a tissue. It's not quite like anything I've
> seen before. I looked at a bunch of pictures of termites and it
> doesn't really look like them. For one thing, it's black. The wings
> are also tight against the body, not spread out at all. What is this
> thing?
>
> Some background: I've only been living in this apartment for 2 months.
> It's a new renovation in an old building, first floor. The building
> has a considerable roach population, which I've seen in full force in
> neighbor's apartments. I've been doing everything I can to control
> them - traps, bombs, sprays, plus being really obsessive about cleaning
> and not leaving food out. I still see one every day or two. (Not sure
> if any of this is relevant. Is there a breed of cockroach that eats
> wood like this?) The futon is brand new. The wood is all stained,
> sealed pine.
>
> I'm hoping for advice on what this bug might be and what I should do
> about it. Should I get the landlord involved? Can I seal the holes up
> with something? The speed with which the sawdust started appearing was
> startling. Is this evidence of a large infestation?
>
> I have pictures of the sawdust piles, the holes, and this dead bug,
> which I will happily forward if it will help. And I really appreciate
> any advice anyone has to offer.
> Thanks,
> Josh
>

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