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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 6:41 pm 
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Location: Albuquerque NM
About 10 years ago I lined the wells of a skylight with melamine coated masonite. Recently we've been hearing a clicking noise, almost like crickets. I finally tracked down the sound to the skylight wells. Upon investigation I found that the masonite had been nearly completely consumed from behind the melamine. The 2x8 framing behind the masonite is virtually intact. Lots of little larvae or something crawling around (at least until I sprayed them with insecticide).

What are these bugs? I would think termites would have eaten the 2x8 framing, but as I said, it's untouched.


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:15 pm 
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Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Hey drstrip,

Given your location, I'm going to guess powder post beetles. Masonite is made without adhesives, just the lignin present in the wood. MDF on the other hand has some urea formaldehyde in it, which might deter the little buggers. Given that they have a choice between masonite and a softwood 2x4, I think they would choose the masonite. All that said, I have seen powder post beetle bore through MDF and sheetrock, but once they find what they like, they stay and feast.

Cheers,
Tom

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:48 am 
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According the "The Bugman" (a columnist for the Albq Journal), true powder post beetles are extremely rare in New Mexico, but there are similar species called anobiid beetles that have similar behavior. That's probably what we have. Thanks for the hint that got me to this info.


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PostPosted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 11:35 am 
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I was told by our exterminator that "Yes, termites eat wood but, they LOVE the glue on the sheetrock!"
If Masonite is made "with out glue" as TMS says then my original theory goes out the window.
The glue was my original idea of why the termites were eating Masonite instead of the lushes 2 x 8 framing.
Maybe it is the glue holding the melamine to the Masonite that is attracting what ever varmint to that area. I would get it checked out by the best exterminator in your area ASAP!
(Ours is "Advance Termite Control".)

Rog

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 1:12 am 
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This is what you need. Fry it!!! :twisted:
http://powderpost-beetle.com


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