Any idea what's boring holes in branches

[maxheadroom]

A week ago I started to notice some powdery stuff on some of my plants in my terrarium. Turns out to be sawdust from something boring holes into some of the branches I have. I haven't noticed any pests on any of the branches, just tiny holes. Any ideas what it could be?

 

[kinyonga]

Can you post a closer photo of them please?

 

[maxheadroom]

Lights were out but I was able to take these

 

[JoXie411]

@Beman what was that bug in your branches again?

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Cut one open

 

[GoodKarma19]

Without more evidence, i'd guess Wood boring/powder post beetles - they make that mess when they emerge!

 

[jamest0o0]

Most definitely what @GoodKarma19 said. Absolutely harmless, but tend to weaken the branches over time.

I've had these so many times. They often pop up in dead woody plant stems too.

 

[Beman]

@Beman what was that bug in your branches again?

I only had one! I would have had a panic attack if I woke up to all those holes!

 

[maxheadroom]

They're making a mess in there for sure. Thanks for the ID everyone. Is there a way to get rid of them or should I not even bother? It's in a bioactive enclosure. No Cham in there yet.

 

[GoodKarma19]

They're making a mess in there for sure. Thanks for the ID everyone. Is there a way to get rid of them or should I not even bother? It's in a bioactive enclosure. No Cham in there yet.

If it's not bio and rhere's no cham and you're not super attached to the branches, I'd toss them out and put new ones in. That's what I'd do in your shoes!

 

[PantherEnvy]

Get rid of them.

 

[maxheadroom]

I'm going to ditch the branches. Are they going to be confined to the branches or are they going to be elsewhere in the enclosure?

 

[GoodKarma19]

I'm going to ditch the branches. Are they going to be confined to the branches or are they going to be elsewhere in the enclosure?

Just the branches/any untreated wood iirc

 

[maxheadroom]

Thanks for the help!

 

[salty dog]

I have fumigated antique furniture with these guys (wood boring beetles) using vikane which is a formulated flouride lol.. I have also seen these guys eat through 15 floor joists and 4 foundation girders, GET RID OF THOSE BRANCHES!!

 

[maxheadroom]

Definitely pulling the branches. The mess alone is not worth it.

 

[Beman]

Definitely pulling the branches. The mess alone is not worth it.

Honestly I would toss the branches and start out fresh. Not sure where you live but I tossed all mine and got drift wood from the beach. My branches were actually from the craftstore so I was not happy about anything coming out of them. Try not to get branches from the same place you got the last ones too. Good luck. I know it sucks.

 

[Bigsky]

A week ago I started to notice some powdery stuff on some of my plants in my terrarium. Turns out to be sawdust from something boring holes into some of the branches I have. I haven't noticed any pests on any of the branches, just tiny holes. Any ideas what it could be?

Powder post beetles. Larvae feed in the wood and adult beetles emerge, resulting in the holes. Used to be called death watch beetles because folks could hear larvae chewing in the wooden furniture. Folks were quietly in morning in the dead room, in contrast to the living room.

 

[maxheadroom]

Honestly I would toss the branches and start out fresh. Not sure where you live but I tossed all mine and got drift wood from the beach. My branches were actually from the craftstore so I was not happy about anything coming out of them. Try not to get branches from the same place you got the last ones too. Good luck. I know it sucks.

They were seagrape branches that I got near the beach here in south Florida. I didn't see anything on them when I got them but they sat on my back porch for about 3-4 months before I used them.

 

[Beman]

They were seagrape branches that I got near the beach here in south Florida. I didn't see anything on them when I got them but they sat on my back porch for about 3-4 months before I used them.

Yeah I pull mine straight from the beach clean with dawn and water to get any salt residue off then bake in the sun to dry out. I think leaving them on the porch may have done it.