Common Furniture Beetle: (Anobium punctatum)

Habitat:
General softwoods and European heartwoods.
Solid timber sapwood only affected, unless wood rot present, when it may be found in hardwood also. Very rare in tropical hardwoods. Frequent in older furniture and all constructional timbers particularly around loft access, timbers in contact with solid walls, under stairs, cupboards etc.

Panel Products:
Attacks only old birch/beech/oak plywood with animal based adhesive (blood, fish, casein). Modern plywood and all other panel products are immune, though may be penetrated by emerging adults.
Damage characteristics:
Emergence holes
Circular, 1-2 mm diameter (old, extinct damage often accompanied by fine pinholes of parasitic wasps).

Tunnels:
Circular 1-2 mm diameter, often extensive, random orientation but mainly in the direction of the grain. Often exposed on surfaces of floorboards by general wear.

Larva: up to 6 mm long, curved, pale cream; three pairs of legs narrow dark band over mouth parts. Found all year round in infested wood. Often few in number; absent in extinct infestation.

Bore Dust:
Cream-coloured, lemon-shaped pellets, gritty when rubbed between fingers.

Insect Characteristics and location:
Adult: 3-5 mm long, dull brown; lines of pits on wing covers; 180 degree angle between edge of hooded thorax and edge of wing covers. Found on and around damaged timber late March early August, particularly in warm weather. Attracted to windows and white surfaces.