Anobiid beetles are an insidious wood destroying beetle. They are frequently seen in the crawl spaces in homes, but are not often seen by homeowners. These beetles are very small, usually smaller than a grain of rice. The female lays an egg on a piece of wood, near a crack or blemish. When the larvae hatch, they can crawl directly down into the wood, feeding on the wood for several years. In fact, these beetles can live more than 7 years, making them particularly hard to get rid of.
If tiny holes are evident in any of the exposed wood in your crawl space, you may have Anobiid beetles. If the infestation is bad, they can actually move up into the wall studs and the sub-floor of your home.
If a home inspector enters your crawlspace, how can they be detected? Anobiid beetles like damp spaces, so a crawl space with standing water and little ventilation is a likely spot. If a fine dust falls from the lumber, or the wood comes apart in strings, Anobiid beetles are the likely culprit. If the beetles have been active for several years, the wood will be very weak.
Because this type of beetle is very common in the Pacific Northwest, be sure to have your home inspected for these pests. If you cannot afford an inspector, at least go down into your crawl space on your own, checking for signs of damage, especially the tiny exit holes left by the beetles. However, if you are buying a home then you should certainly find the money to hire an inspector, as it is well worth the expense. Either way, if signs of beetle damage are found, you will need to hire a licensed structural pest inspector to determine the extent of the problem and help you fix it.