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Death watch beetle

Death watch beetle

Xestobium rufovillosum

A species of Xestobium, Also known as Knock beetle

Death watch beetle bore into wooden structures and cause strange ticking sound at midnight. Death watch beetle would hide in wooden structures for as long as 5-7 years. Therefore, even newly purchased furniture that appears great can have already been affected.

General Info About Death watch beetle
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Attributes of Death watch beetle
Colors
Brown
Purple
Habitat
indoor; deadwood
Adult Food Sources
Softwoods, hardwoods, wooden artifacts, bark, wooden panels
Larva Food Source
Decayed hardwood, old furniture wood, wooden structural timbers, aged flooring, seasoned heartwood
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
Not reported
Venomous
Not reported
Non-poisonous
The Death watch beetle is non-toxic and generally doesn't pose a risk to human health. No need for excessive worry.
Borer
The Death watch beetle can bore into the wood and may damage its structure, or even harm the health of trees. Stay alert if you frequently observe it in your house.
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
The Death watch beetle feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.
Predatory
Not reported
Biting animal or pet
Not reported
Mouthparts Type
Chewing mouthparts
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Species Status of Death watch beetle
It is found in Europe, including the United Kingdom, as well as North America, Corsica, Algeria, and New Caledonia.
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Distribution Area of Death watch beetle
England
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Life Cycle of Death watch beetle
Egg The initial stage begins when an egg is laid. At this point, the death watch beetle is a small, often oval-shaped egg, colored to blend in with its surroundings for protection.
Larva Emerging from the egg, the larva is worm-like with a segmented body. It lacks developed wings, has a voracious appetite, and focuses on feeding to gather energy for the next stages.
Pupal After the larval stage, the death watch beetle enters the pupal phase. Now immobile, encased within a protective cocoon, the creature undergoes significant internal transformation, reforming its body structure.
Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult death watch beetle's development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction.
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Adult Size of Death watch beetle
7 mm
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Predators of Death watch beetle Larvae
Birds, rodents, spiders
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Predators of Adult Death watch beetle
Birds, rodents, spiders, lizards
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Interesting Facts About Death watch beetle
Death watch beetle's larvae can 'play dead' for minutes when exposed, a behavior that helps them avoid predators.
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Scientific Classification of Death watch beetle
Tips for Finding Death watch beetle
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Youth Habitat of Death watch beetle
Rotting and Decaying Matter, Forests and Woodlands
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Adult Habitat of Death watch beetle
Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Suburban Areas
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How Can You Attract Death watch beetle
Since death watch beetle is known to be a wood-boring beetle, trap food would typically include substances that mimic or contain wood, especially those which are soft, damp, or already decayed, to attract them.
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Habitat Preferences of Death watch beetle Through Different Life Stages
The larval stage of death watch beetle typically resides within the wood of deciduous trees, especially oak, where the larvae feed on the wood, creating tunnels. Searching for these larvae involves examining old furniture, structural timbers, and dead trees for exit holes and frass. The adult death watch beetle, after undergoing metamorphosis, often remains near the larval habitat; they are mostly found in the cracks and crevices of infested wood or on surfaces near the infested areas during the warmer months. Exploring for adults would entail inspecting these same areas, particularly from late spring to summer when they are most active.
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When is the Best Time to Observe Death watch beetle
The suitable time to find death watch beetle is when they are most active which usually coincides with their mating period often in the warmer months. Monitoring during late spring and summer would be ideal.
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What is the Best Weather to Observe Death watch beetle
Like many insects, death watch beetle prefers warm and humid weather, which facilitates their breeding process and the development of larvae. Additionally, they tend to avoid extreme cold or very dry conditions.
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How and Where Can You Find Death watch beetle at Different Life Stages
Larva Death watch beetle larvae are hidden feeders, boring into wood where they remain unseen. To find them, inspect wood for exit holes and listen for the 'ticking' sounds they make, which is especially audible at night when the house is quiet.
Pupal During the pupal stage, death watch beetle is typically immobile and transforms inside a wooden tunnel or chamber. Locating them requires careful examination of infested wood by looking for round exit holes or by X-ray imaging if available.
Adult Death watch beetle adults can be found near or on the surface of the wood. Searching for them entails examining old furniture, beams, and other wooden items, especially those that are damp and unpainted. Pay special attention to areas with obvious signs of damage or frass.
Are Death watch beetle harmful?
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Death watch beetle can bore into woods, damage furniture and wooden structure of houses, causing economic loss and safety concerns.

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Are Death watch beetle harmful to humans?

Decreasing ornamental value. Death watch beetle infest wood. If a large number of larvae bore through the wood, the surface could be marred.
Economic losses. Besides wooden furniture, hardwood floors, and wooden frames, death watch beetles also damage art and books.
Structural damage leads to safety hazards. A severe infestation may hollow wooden materials such as beams, weakening their ability to bear weight and leading to serious safety hazards.
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The larvae do the most damage.
Once hatched, larvae bore deeply into wood, feasting while growing and leaving behind long lines. Larvae last five to seven years or even longer under less-than-ideal growth conditions.
When the larvae are ready to pupate, they emerge from the bores to the wood surface to make pupas and emerge into adult form.
After adult insects mate, the females seek wood to lay eggs on. They are likely to lay eggs around the bores from which they came.
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Where do Death watch beetle come from?

  • Death watch beetles may be hidden inside wood brought into homes.
  • Death watch beetles prefer hardwood. When houses are built or decorate using hardwood, they are more prone to death watch beetle infestations.
  • Death watch beetle prefers to lay eggs in relatively high humidity, so humid homes generate more beetles.
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What is the most effective prevention against Death watch beetle?

  • Keep your home well ventilated. When necessary, use a dehumidifier or air conditioning to dial down the extra moisture in your home.
  • Repair roofs, pipes, cracks, and seams to prevent rain and underground water leaks.
  • Avoid using hardwood (oak in particular) for home decorations or building materials.
  • Varnish wood with furniture lacquer. It seals hidden larvae inside the wood, cutting off their air supply and suffocating them.
  • Pay attention to wooden surfaces at home. When suspicious bores show up on wood surfaces, or when feces, wood powder, or dead adult pests are found on the floor, or when traces of adult pests are spotted next to the windows, seal the bores promptly and expel the adult pests.
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How to get rid of Death watch beetle?

Replace wood materials. First, verify the level of damage to the wood materials. If they are badly damaged, the parts must be replaced and the bored and hollowed wood disposed of. Otherwise, there could be safety hazards.
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If the damage is mild, the following measures are recommended:
  1. Spray permethrin pesticide to the bores and their outer surfaces.
  2. When the pesticide is dry, paint furniture with lacquer all over the wood.
  3. Apply the pesticide to places in which adult pests like to rest, such as door and window frames, baseboards, wall corners, and beneath the furniture and home appliances. Look for drill holes where pipes and wires come in and out of rooms and inspect the cracks and seams of the house.
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Use pesticides. If a good number of wood pieces at home all appear to be bored through, pesticide fumigation should be carried out in those rooms. Please note the pesticides must be bought from a legitimate local store and the product instructions must be strictly followed. It's recommended to fumigate once every 3 years, which covers the death watch beetle's full life span and therefore eradicates them effectively.
Harmful Effects of Death watch beetle
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Structural Pests

Death watch beetle poses a severe threat to historical wooden structures and antique furniture. In its larval stage, this pest bores into wood, causing structural weakness and potential collapse. Adults lay eggs in crevices, perpetuating the cycle. Infestations can result in the loss of irreplaceable cultural heritage.

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Hurt Plant

Death watch beetle, in both larval and adult stages, causes mild to severe damage by boring into the wood of host plants. Over time, structural integrity is compromised, leading to weakened support and potential collapse.

More Effects of Death watch beetle

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