Florida insects 🐛🌿- Metallic Wood Boring Beetle Species Chalcophora virginiensis - Sculptured Pine Borer Image

A black and white beetle / bug about 1 to 1.5 inches in lengh - Picture taken in Flagler County, Florida, 2023, potentially dangerous to wood and your home

After buying a ton of fresh pine bark mulch, I found several metallic wood-boring beetles crawling around. I suspect they came with the mulch. The beetles were slow-moving and jerky, and they didn't seem to be afraid of any predators or humans. In fact, after I stepped on one, the body was left alone even by the nearby fire ants.

Metallic wood-boring beetles are not typically aggressive, and they are not known to bite or sting humans. However, they can damage wood, so it is important to remove them if you find them in your home or garden.

Here are some tips for removing metallic wood-boring beetles:

• Inspect any new wood products carefully before bringing them into your home.
• Remove any infested wood from your home or garden.
• Treat infested wood with a pesticide designed for wood borers.
• Keep your home and garden free of debris, which can provide hiding places for beetles.

If you have a large infestation of metallic wood-boring beetles, you may need to call a pest control professional.