Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It had been a few days since I visited one of my hondos. I opened the lid, and found many small piles of fine brown dust on the paper towels. I have a chunk of Manzanita branch in there as one of her hiding places. Upon close examination of the branch, I discovered about a hundred tiny, perfectly round holes which had been bored all through this branch. There is absolutely nothing visible crawling on, in, or anywhere around this branch, or the snake. She appears to be healthy. I recently switched from reptile bark substrate to paper towels, because I ran out. Anyone have a similar experience, or know what this is I'm talking about?

I had a piece of sand blasted grape vine in a cage once and got small piles of wood dust. There were termites in the wood, I baked it in the oven and haven't seen evidence of them since. Maybe that's it?

I would have to say wood boring beetle larvae of some sort. There are lots of species of these, and range in size from large to very small.

Termites dont really leave a dust trail, they leave a paste type of residue vs. a wood boring beetle which leaves a fine wood dust.

If you baked it, like the previous poster suggested, you will kill the little offenders.
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1.0 Corn snake
1.0 Black rat snake
1.0 Albino Black rat snake
1.0 Everglades rat snake
0.1 Yellow rat snake
1.1 California king snake
1.0 Prairie king snake
0.1 Black king snake

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

All bark, branches, and wood bedding should be sprayed with a 100% vinegar solution and then rinsed out before using in an enclosure. Vinegar kills more bacterium and germs than household bleach. The only exception I make is Aspen bedding or pine shavings. You assume the contents have been sanitized by the mfgr.

Mike
nyc,ny

If the "dust" looks like brown flour, you most definately have the before mentioned wood boring or "powder post beetle". Heat should kill them, if not, then insecticide is the next option, but the would most likely kill your pets. the onle other option is to replace the wood.