Wood Pests
Deathwatch Beetle
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Deathwatch Beetle
This beetle gets its name from the tapping sound it makes as a mating signal. An old superstition said this was an ominous warning of impending death. The Deathwatch beetle only eats hardwoods that have been attacked by fungi. This beetle will reinfest structures. They will also attack furniture and books. It is dark grayish brown and about 1/3rd inch in size.
Life Cycle:
The female lays about 40-60 eggs in clusters in or near the emergence hole. The eggs hatch in 2-3 weeks, and the larvae will reach almost a half inch in size. The larvae form a pupal cell, in which the new adults may remain for a long period if conditions are unfavorable. The life cycle will be completed in anywhere from one to ten years due to this situation where the adults remain in the pupal cell, but it averages about four years. Adults emerge in the late spring, mate, and then die within a few weeks.
