Question
QUESTION: I found some dead weevils in some new bedroom cupboard drawers and one that was alive in the bathroom floor. All our cupboards are custom-made in either teak, mahogany, or ebony and the cabinet maker is unable to tell me why this is happening. Floors are all porcelain tiles so I cannot determine where these dead weevils are coming from, nor do I understand why. Can you help, please?

ANSWER: There several wood boring weevils (beetles) that bore into the wood before it is manufactured into furniture and when they complete their life cycle (after the furniture is made) they emerge. It sounds like this is what has happened.  The good news is these do not re-infest the wood--manly because the wood is too dry for the eggs to hatch. So what you have is the end of the life cycle and there will be no more future hatching from these weevils laying eggs in the wood furniture. This is a common occurrence in wood products made of foreign wood like teak and mahogany.

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QUESTION: Thank you for that information. So how do I know when their life cycle has ended? Would I expect to see more dead or alive weevils? And, does this mean that the wood I paid so much for, was sub-standard? I mean, the furniture we had custom-made is really great, but I am looking at the long term. Could I have a potential dilemma?
Thank you, once again,
Pearl.

Answer
An insects life cycle is from the egg to an adult insect. These weevils have reached the adult stage and since they can not find a suitable place (moist wood- usually wood with bark attached) the cycle is broken and will not continue. You may see more live or dead weevils since individual insect will hatch out at different times BUT I would not think after a month or so you will see any more. I would not say it was sub-standard wood but it was infested with weevil larvae. The logs were infested and when the boards were cut for the furniture the insect larvae were inside the wood and more than likely the manufacturer did not see any signs (holes or galleries in the wood). You should be able to see holes where the weevil adults emerged from the wood. I do not think you will have a problem BUT I would let the folks you bought it from know and then IF there is a problem in the future you will have a leg to stand on. No you could not have prevented this since the larvae were deep in the wood and not visible.