The Life Cycle of Kentucky’s Old House Borer
Solomon’s Synopsis
Solomon Hess
01/14/2026
Kentucky old house borer (Hylotrupes bajulus) undergoes complete metamorphosis, beginning life as an egg laid by a female adult in a wood crevice. The egg typically hatches within 7-10 days of being laid, producing a larva.
Larvae begin boring into the wood upon hatching and remain there for as little as 2 years or as long as 15 years (but typically between 3 and 6 years), feeding and tunneling. At the end of the larval stage, the larva will excavate a small chamber just beneath the wood’s surface for pupation.
Old house borer pupa takes 2-3 weeks to emerge as an adult. The adult beetle will chew a small, 1/4 to 3/8 inch wide, oval hole in the pupal chamber to exit the wood.
The adult will typically live for only another 2-3 weeks, as its sole purpose is to mate and lay eggs to restart the cycle. A female will lay anywhere from 50 to 200 eggs, often in the same place from which they hatch, making an infestation incredibly destructive.
Old house borer exit holes in wood.
Old house borer adult beetle
Old house borers had been off the radar in most parts of Kentucky for decades; however, in recent years, they have made a comeback with calls increasing and sightings becoming more common. Our team here at Four Seasons not only offers solutions to your old house borer infestation, but ongoing protection and warranties to ensure you’re always covered! That’s why all your neighbors say, “It’s good to have Four Seasons on your side!”
And remember, it’s okay to live among pests… but you don’t have to live with them!
