Wharf Borer
NuisanceWhat it is
A reddish-brown wood-boring beetle associated with damp, decaying wood, especially in waterfront, basement, crawlspace, or chronically moist structural areas. Its presence often indicates wood moisture and fungal decay.
How to recognize it
A reddish-brown, wood-boring beetle found in damp, decaying wood near water or in basements.
Where you will find it
Waterfront structures, basements, and crawlspaces with chronically damp wood.
Why it matters
Its presence points to wood moisture and fungal decay, which is the larger problem.
What to do
- Do not pick at, drill, or disturb damaged wood. Photograph it, and note any sawdust, mud tubes, or exit holes.
- Report leaks and damp areas, since moisture attracts many wood-destroying insects.
- Contact a licensed pest professional for an inspection to confirm what is active.
- Avoid spraying. Surface sprays do not reach nests inside wood or soil.
When to call a professional
- You see swarmers, mud tubes, sawdust piles, or round exit holes in wood.
- Wood sounds hollow or feels soft.
- You are buying or selling a home.
Related pests
Carpenter Bees
Large solitary bees that bore round nesting tunnels into unfinished or weathered wood. Males may hover defensively but cannot sting; females can sting but usually do so only when handled or threatened.
Read more →Death Watch Beetles
Wood-boring beetles whose larvae develop in seasoned hardwoods, especially older, damp, or fungus-affected timbers. Adults may produce a tapping sound associated historically with the name 'deathwatch.'
Read more →False Powder Post Beetle
A wood-boring beetle group in which larvae tunnel through seasoned wood, bamboo, or wood products. Adults typically emerge through round exit holes, leaving frass or powder near infested material.
Read more →Termites
Social, wood-eating insects that nest in the soil and tunnel into structures, often unseen for years. In the Mid-Atlantic the eastern subterranean termite is the main concern. Inspection and professional treatment...
Read more →This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Pests vary by region and situation, and an on-site inspection is the reliable way to know what you have.