What critical condition must wood meet for deathwatch beetle larvae to consume it?
Answer
Moisture content of 30% or higher and softened by fungal action
Larvae will only eat wood that has a high moisture content, approximately 30% or greater, and has been softened by fungal activity, as they consume the fungal mycelium and the resulting softened wood structure.
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What is the primary food source for the destructive larval stage of the deathwatch beetle?Which hardwood is most frequently cited as the preferred food source for *Xestobium rufovillosum*?What critical condition must wood meet for deathwatch beetle larvae to consume it?How long can the grub-like deathwatch beetle larva spend tunneling through infested wood?What substances primarily compose the frass ejected by active deathwatch beetle infestations?What is generally true regarding the feeding habits of adult deathwatch beetles?What key distinction separates the deathwatch beetle's diet strategy from some other common wood-boring pests?What causes the rhythmic tapping or ticking sound associated with the deathwatch beetle?How is the ejected frass from deathwatch beetle feeding typically described?What is the typical measurement range for the exit hole bored by an emerging adult deathwatch beetle?