Unfortunately, speak to me about powderpost beetles in barns

[SMF11]

One of my barns, built in the 1790’s, seems to be infested with powderpost beetles. On the one hand, I’d love to do what I can to save/prevent damage to the barn. On the other hand, only about 1/4 of it is used, as a run-in shed, and the rest is filled with wood boards, horse drawn farm machinery, and other detritus of the past 200 years. So, our budget is limited, and the barn can’t be, for example, emptied.

In my quick reading, it says they are killed by freezing temps, which we certainly have. The other treatments I’ve read about are heating up the affected wood (not possible w/the barn) and treating with a pesticide which must soak 2" into the wood, also not really practical in a large timber-framed barn that’s filled with a lot of wood.

Is there anything I could be doing? Any COTH wisdom would be much appreciated.

[Huntin_Pony]

Local exterminator got rid of them in my newer (1840s) barn in one treatment. I presume he did the pesticide treatment that you describe. It was not a particularly big deal or big ticket ($$).

Good luck - it’s worth saving!

[Jim_in_PA]

They can be treated with a borax-based solution…talk to a pro exterminator.

[Huntin_Pony]

Jim - I think you’ve hit the solution - literally! Now that you mention borax I think that’s what my exterminator used.

As I said - one treatment, no recurrence of trouble.

[Frog_Pond]

It’s boric acid, or borax, and it shreds the exoskeleton of the beetles. You can DIY or have it done professionally, but, first I’d get a few opinions on whether you have an active infestation or not. I have a 1700’s house that is loaded with powderpost beetle damage, but the carpenters and exterminators guess that the bugs have been gone for 200 years. That didn’t stop the previous owners from having the house treated with boric acid twice in the 1980’s. You say it seems to be infested – are you just seeing old damage, maybe, hopefully?

[Tom_King]

Boracare. I think I can find a recipe for making it. You just spray it on with a pump sprayer, just like the exterminator you pay to do it. I use a lot of it in the old houses I work on.

[Tom_King]

Here you go: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?233066-Home-made-bora-care-amp-timbor

[Jim_in_PA]

That place looks familiar, Tom…heh…heh…

[SMF11]

Thanks everyone, and especially Tom King.

I don’t know if there’s an active infestation; a couple of years ago there definitely was (saw tiny piles of powder ). But a couple of years ago we didn’t have the spare funds Yo do anything about it.

I’ll try and see if it’s still an active infestation. I can easily spray the run-in part of the barn, but not the other areas. I suppose partially treating is better than no treatment at all.