Lyctid (family Lyctidae) beetle infestations are in hardwoods, and usually hardwood flooring. These beetles are common in imported hardwoods used in household molding. Infestations are characterized by 1/32-inch, round holes with frass surrounding the opening (in flooring) or falling from holes. The adult beetles live only a short time and rarely are found.
Development. Females lay eggs in exposed ends of flooring or other wood, usually in the pores of the grain or in cracks and crevices. Hatching is in about three weeks. Development from egg to adult requires six to 12 months, depending on the starch and moisture content of the wood. The life cycle extends to two years, or as much as four years under unfavorable conditions.
Frass. The frass of lyctid beetles contains no hard pellets and is soft when rubbed lightly between the fingers.
Habits. Females prefer to lay eggs in wood that is less than five years old, because it has adequate starch content (at least 3%) for the developing larvae. Bamboo, which is a grass, has high starch content, and also can be infested by lyctid beetles.