Unknown and unseen critter eating firewood...

[Malkavian]

All summer I've been hearing some sort of rhythmic scritching coming from a pile of firewood I have outside during the late afternoon and night. I've located small holes going through the bark and piles of borings ranging from coarse to very fine. In places where the bark comes up i find markings like someone has taken a rasp and carved out tracks in the wood, along with more holes, and once I spied a bulbous white grub that quickly went down a hole.

Initially I thought carpenter bees, but then with the sound and larvae--deathwatch beetles? I still wonder if I have two pests at work since I find two consistencies of shavings. Either way I have yet to see an actual adult insect.

 

[thedude]

i doubt deathwatch beetles... really itty-bitty but most def some kind of wood eating/boring beetle.. perhapse eyed click beetle or long hron beetle larve, it's hard to say w/o the grub

 

[Malkavian]

i doubt deathwatch beetles... really itty-bitty but most def some kind of wood eating/boring beetle.. perhapse eyed click beetle or long hron beetle larve, it's hard to say w/o the grub

Thanks--I'll have some time this weekend, will try to roust a grub out and get photos then!

 

[Malkavian]

Well, I managed to find one of the grubs this morning under loose bark, and after investigating your suggestions I believe what I've got is longhorn beetles, perhaps Rhagium inquisitor

The grub looked just like this:
http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/images/Rhagium inquisitor larvae.jpg

I don't know if there are multiple species that may have similar looking larvae but I will keep my eyes out for adults.

 

[Black Widow88]

If those are indeed long horn beetle larvae I never expected them to look like that! I would've thought that they were a bit thinner and had black heads.....Amazing. Plus I've never seen the larvae only the adults. So that would result in me making those kind of "visions" of them.

The orange heads sort of make them look like elongated soldier termites. Do they pinch you? Remember I've only seen and held the adults not the larvae.

Black Widow88

 

[thedude]

yep looks like long horns try finding the piec of wood there in and dig them out and keep them and watch em grow for the next year

 

[Black Widow88]

And just hope and pray that they don't eat your precious trees to death.

Black Widow88

 

[thedude]

And just hope and pray that they don't eat your precious trees to death.

Black Widow88

rofl

 

[Black Widow88]

Black Widow88

 

[Malkavian]

yep looks like long horns try finding the piec of wood there in and dig them out and keep them and watch em grow for the next year

Intersting idea--thing is they're all burrowed into sections of pine trunk about a foot across and two feet long, don't fancy that effort I'll keep an eye out for the adults though they're neat looking.

 

[Black Widow88]

They are indeed neat looking. I would like to see what the adults look like.

Black Widow88

 

[thedude]

pine??? you might have to bump the idea of a long horn to a buprestid (look it up) but thats my guess

 

[Black Widow88]

pine??? you might have to bump the idea of a long horn to a buprestid (look it up) but thats my guess

Ok.

Black Widow88

 

[ScorpDemon]

You use pine for firewood?

 

[Black Widow88]

If you're talking to me then no. I don't even have a fire place! LOL! I was just wondering what the adults looked like and when he/she said "You might have to bump the idea of a long horn to a buprestid.." I thought that's what they looked like.

Although why do I get the impression that I've gotten things mixed up here? XD

Black Widow88

 

[radjess331]

you may have a wood pecker trying to get the grubs in the wood and thats what you are hearing.....

 

[Choobaine]

Those little beetles are gorgeous! I suggest you keep them and enjoy havin' 'em cuz I guess I'd attempt to make a "pet" out of anything.