? Furniture Bugs?

[descodave]

We bought some rattan furniture at Island Collections in Kona about 3 years ago, & just recently we're seeing some small slightly oblong tan colored wood shavings or maybe droppings on the floor under the arm area of the sofa bed. We flipped the couch over & can't see anything; I clean up the area, but then the little pile comes back! Anyone know what this could be & how to stop it? Thanks for any help.

[Tink]

Termites!! Look for tiny holes in the framework. Mix Boraxo soap and water and drop or two with a toothpick into hole. Something should wiggle out.

Community begins with Aloha

[shockwave rider]

Or powder post beetles.

http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/powd...eetles.htm

[Lee M-S]

I think there's a borer beetle that eats bamboo/rattan as well. I treated my bamboo table to some bug spray, then wrapped it in plastic for a while, bugs seem to be gone.

><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >o>

[Tink]

My remedy should work for all the above, as all it really is, is Borate, or Boric acid that you are making if going natural.

Community begins with Aloha

[terracore]

Lots of people swear by orange oil. The protection is supposed to be good long after the industrial-strength orange smell is gone.

[shockwave rider]

quote:

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Originally posted by terracore

Lots of people swear by orange oil. The protection is supposed to be good long after the industrial-strength orange smell is gone.

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Did not work for us, instead they spread to additional bamboo and rattan furniture.

[pander75]

Ugh! Save yourself a lot of heartache and throw that furniture away now! Speaking from several past experiences, you can treat with different solutions, but ultimately once the bugs get started there is really no permanent way of completely getting rid of them. That's just the story of having organic materials in the tropics. Lots of people like the style of rattan but it's tasty to lots of critters and has tons of places to hide and lay eggs. NOT something you want in your house!

[descodave]

Thanks for your replies! I think we'll flip the couch back over & look for the tiny holes & try the Boraxo soap/water - it's worth a try (couch was so expensive)! The rest of our furniture is Bamboo & Teak - hopefully it'll be okay.

[shockwave rider]

quote:

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Originally posted by descodave

Thanks for your replies! I think we'll flip the couch back over & look for the tiny holes & try the Boraxo soap/water - it's worth a try (couch was so expensive)! The rest of our furniture is Bamboo & Teak - hopefully it'll be okay.

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FYI: Our bamboo furniture that had powder post beetles came from Bamboo and Teak. Best bet is to tent the house with the furniture in it, the critters migrated from the furniture to our mahogany veneer closet doors and unvarnished trim in no time, wish we had tented at the first sign of them.