CLOSED: Help ID please (suspected arhopalus rusticus)

Milan, Italy

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

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Minot, ND

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?

Milan, Italy

Hi Flapdoodle and thanks for replying.

I took some more pictures (different specimen), one dorsal and a couple that I hope are sufficiently clear of the tarsi. Let me know if you need better ones and I'll try and borrow a better camera.

Thanks for your help!

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Minot, ND

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.

Milan, Italy

Oh dear, that's the one. I can't thank you enough for lending your expertise! Amazing :)

Cheers,

PBD

Delanson, NY

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

Milan, Italy

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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