Hiya!
I've been grappling with these little guys for years now. Basically they are in my basement-floor music production studio in Milan, Italy, where the frames that hold the soundproofing together were built out of pine beams (we got the beams from a company that stored them outdoors) where I suspect their larvae live. They always show up around this time of the year (April - May). I've had to call pest control every year for 5 years, they just keep coming back. Finally last year the pest guy id'd them as a xylophagous species (the previous guys didn't), he did a treatment accordingly but they're back again a year later. I am slightly anxious because a lot of instruments and equipment racks in the studio are made of wood, though it is my understanding that they aren't liable to attack treated/finished woods.
Anyway, any help ID'ing this guy would be great. I did a little research on the internet and I am suspecting arhopalus rusticus?
Thanks
PBD
CLOSED: Help ID please (suspected arhopalus rusticus)
Doesn't look like Arhopalus rusticus to me from these images. Can you provide more that clearly show all the tarsi as well as at least one from a dorsal aspect?
I believe that what you have here is a beetle in the family Oedemeridae known as a wharf borer. Their larvae usually only attack wood that had been water-damaged and is very moist/water-logged. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wharf_borer for more detailed information.
Oh dear, that's the one. I can't thank you enough for lending your expertise! Amazing :)
Cheers,
PBD
Found this site with some good information on control. Hopefully this will help you chose the correct method on control going forward!
http://www.adamspestcontrol.com/residential-pest-information-flying-insects-wharf-borers
Hi Exorr, thanks for that. It's a real issue for me because my studio is in a converted basement and all the soundproofing is permanently installed, making it really difficult and somewhat unrealistic for me to tear it all up and find the bad wood. I had the place treated by a pest control company last year and it diminished the issue, I am wondering if I should call them again this year.
Anyway, cheers for your two pence :)
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