Buggs in my Buddha's

[yaya]

Hi ll
My first post -- i bought two buddhas from Thailand one 5ft another 6ft in the last 18 months -- both have been showing signs of dust on the floor but one of them i can hear noises inside at night like a chewing - i know they were treated for termites before being exported but i believe as they are such thick pieces it might not have been effective. I have been treating the outside with woodworm killer an industrial one and the dust seems to disappear for a while but the noises do not. I have had a (incredible) quote from rentokill to do heat treatment on them but it is ten times higher than the price i paid. Does anyone have any ideas - -my flooring is wood and I am worried about keeping them in the house but they are so beautiful I do not want to get rid of them. I do not know whether these are beetles bugs or woodworm. Sorry this is a long post - -any help greatfully received.

[SeaLeveler]

Could you wrap in a plastic bag and fumagate or exhaust them.?????Tony

[AlArchie]

I sure don't mean to cause a panic, here, but you should DEFINITELY get in touch with a professional exterminator. Those Buddas may be harboring a dangerous invasive species. Just in the area of wood and tree supplies we are currently under attack from the emerald ash borer, and three or four other potentiall destructive insects and fungi. These invaders are affecting pines, oaks, ash, maple, butternut and many other species Please get those professionally treated.

Al

[papasar]

That is one problem I would not ignore. Had a neighbor who carted trash for a living and He gave me fish tank supplies that a wholesale importer had discarded. I found plastic boxes containing fish food with borers actually eating the plastic. They were more than termites. IMHO
Bill K.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

First....GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE! My folks bought my sister a piano years and years ago......turns out it had termites....after sometime, they found they worked their way out of the piano and into the floor of the house! Al is right, this could be a variety not known here and could start something drastic in our forests, homes etc!!!

[brian-bailey]

yaya,

Here is a link to some information for your consideration.

See: Bostrichidae heading, might be what's chewing your wood.

POWDERPOST AND OTHER WOOD-DESTROYING BEETLES IN MINNESOTA STRUCTURES

You can destroy all the bugs in your Buddas by heating them to 140 degrees F. core temp. for several hours.

You don't need to remove the Buddas from your house, just seal them in plastic bag until you decide your course of action. The plastic bag will contain any emerging adults so they don't spread to the rest of the house. If you are inclined to use a pesticide make sure that it is approved for powder post beetles.

Good Luck, Brian...

[yaya]

Thankyou everyone for your assistance and advise - -I will remove them from the house and seal them in plastic bags while i look into what kinds of treatment is available - the most difficult thing is trying to find out exactly what is inside them - -as the wood was monkey wood I was originally told it was very good at resisting bugs and woodworm - Brian that link was very helpful and I will try and contact them to see if there is any specific advise they could give. Will keep yo all posted. Again thankyou!