Bamboo Tiger Longhorn Beetle (Chlorophorus annularis) - A Super Pest?

Does anyone have experience with this bamboo pest? We have found the bug at all stages (pupae, larvae, adult) in our poles which were treated prior to installation in our house (3 week wash, dry then permethrin soak treatment method). Some of the infested poles are three years old already.  What is the life-cycle of this bug? Can it have already spread to other poles in the house, or were they already in the poles, survived treatment and are now emerging?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Chlorophorus annularis is a serious bamboo pest, it attacks both standing culms and stored bamboo poles. The adults lay eggs in cracks or cut ends, larvae tunnel and feed on the inner fibers, then pupate inside the pole. The full life cycle can run a few months to a year depending on climate, so yes, you can see all stages in the same pole.

If you’re seeing emergence years later, then the preservation treatment was probably not effective enough. It likely knocked the infestation back at first but wore out over time. Once adults emerge, they can re-infest untreated or lightly treated bamboo nearby.

Permethrin can be used to treat bamboo, but it's generally not the most effective method for long-term preservation against insects and fungi. While permethrin is effective against some pests, other treatments like borax-boric acid solutions are often preferred for bamboo due to better penetration and long-term protection.

For existing infestations indoors, you’d need to treat or replace infested poles. If the spread is ongoing, consider targeted treatment by injecting Timbor in all of the bamboo internodes.

Nisus Tim-BOR Professional Insecticidal Dust, Water-Soluble Borate Powder, Wood Preservative and Fungicide for Termites, Carpenter Ants, Wood Decay, 1.5 lbs

Bamboo Helmet Stands

I make Helmet stands for Collectors of Militaria. The US M1 helmet is very popular when used with the Camoflage helmet Cover used in the Vietnam War. I recently had access to freshly cut bamboo and used it on the display. It was well received and I was asked if it was avaialble.

My question is can the bamboo be preserved enough to maintain it's strength and not rot? It would be wonderful if it could retain that beautiful green color but I know that's impossible. Even if it dried to brown it would work in the display. The section I'm using are about 1 1/2" diameter in 12" sections. I can tell the stalk is already getting soft. So I can't save this batch but maybe the next? Thanks.

Bamboo Helmet Stand

Bamboo Treatment Tank Maintenance

I'm trying to maintain the concentration of a Borax/Boric acid in our bamboo treatment tank. We add additional salts as we top up with water due to the level drop, which must be part due to absorption and part due to incomplete drainage of the poles back into the tank, but after some years and many batches I'm concerned that the solution may not be at optimum strength.

I have not found using a hydrometer or measuring ppm to be effective, I guess due to sugars etc leaching from the bamboo. Do you have any advice? A rule of thumb calculation? A suitable measurement device? Or should we just continue to go by drop in fluid level?

Additionally our tank is black and smelly although we circulate the solution through a bag filter and occasionally add iodine. Do you have methods of keeping the solution cleaner?

We are in the Philippines, using primarily "Butong" Dendrocalamus asper for construction. We have a 1M X 1M X 11M tank in which we soak 20 to 25 10mtr poles, 2 weeks per batch. The tank is covered. We have a starting solution of Borax: Boric acid 75KG:50Kg in 7.8cu.m water.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

My Bamboo Furniture is being Attacked by Beetles

I have a serious problem with my bamboo furniture being attacked by beetles. I would be very appreciative if anyone can give me a solution…

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⭐ Best Answer:

Drill small holes in the bamboo near the nodes and inject an insecticide (Timbor). You can drill the holes under the arm rests or other hidden places so that it won't affect the aesthetic qualities of the furniture.

Using Bamboo Underwater for Floating House Design

I am working on a floating house design and would like to use bamboo as a floating foundation. Now my questions are:

1. How long will bamboo that is partially underwater last?

2. Is there a difference between permanently underwater and alternately underwater?

3. How can you best process the bamboo to stay in good condition for as long as possible?

4. Is there a difference if the house is in fresh or salt water?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Bamboo can work as flotation if it’s treated and either kept always underwater or always above water.

1. How long does bamboo last when partially underwater?

• Partially submerged (splash zone): This is the worst case. The alternation of wet/dry cycles with oxygen exposure accelerates fungal decay. Untreated bamboo here often lasts only 1–3 years.

• Fully submerged: In low-oxygen water, bamboo can last 10–15 years or more in freshwater. In fact, waterlogged archaeological bamboo has survived centuries.

2. Permanently underwater vs. alternately underwater

• Permanently underwater: More durable, as oxygen is limited and fungi cannot thrive.

• Alternately underwater: Much shorter lifespan due to swelling/shrinkage, UV exposure, and microbial attack at the waterline.

3. How to process bamboo for best longevity

• Proper harvest: Use mature bamboo (4–6 years old).

• Preservation methods:

  • CCB (safe and fixating insect/fungal protection).

  • CCA (stronger preservative if environmental regulations allow).

• Physical protection:

  • Resin/epoxy coatings.

  • Wrapping the submerged section with a waterproof membrane.

• Design principle: Keep bamboo either always submerged or fully above water. Avoid the alternating splash zone whenever possible.

4. Freshwater vs. saltwater performance

• Freshwater: Main risks are fungi and bacteria. With treatment, bamboo can last a decade or more if fully submerged.

• Saltwater: Adds marine borers (shipworms, gribbles). Untreated bamboo may be destroyed in months to a few years. Strong protective coatings or hybrid floatation systems are essential.

Practical Recommendations:

• If using bamboo for flotation, make airtight pontoons (bundled bamboo sealed with resin/tar, or enclosed in a membrane).

• In freshwater, treated bamboo pontoons can be serviceable for many years.

• In saltwater, consider hybrid designs: bamboo combined with plastic drums, ferrocement, or other durable floatation elements.

Treatment for Bamboo Poles Buried in Soil

I have a question regarding bamboo treatment. I want to use bamboo poles as structural elements in my ranch but we have water sprinklers to keep certain crops fresh all year. How can we treat the poles in order to keep it in use at least 6 years buried in soil inside the wet ground? Poles will be buried 3 ft in the ground.

Would the bamboo lose strength with time? How do I preserve and extend the lifespan of the bamboo? What would be the lifespan of the bamboo after the preservative treatment? I was thinking to use busan 1009, do you recommend it? Thanks for your comments.

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⭐ Best Answer:

Generally speaking it is not recommended to use bamboo buried in soil for structural purposes. You should use chemicals to extend the lifespan of bamboo buried in soil, but just as most timber, bamboo will eventually deteriorate even if chemically treated.

I have no experience with busan 1009 but what we use to protect bamboo poles in ground contact is tar. Tar or creosote isn't exactly an eco-friendly product, but it is cheap and does provide excellent protection. I recently dug out some bamboo fence posts treated with tar, and they were still intact after 10 years.

The best way though is to chemically preserve the bamboo poles and to design a structure where the bamboo poles don't touch the soil directly. A concrete foot or large rock for example would work great.

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Fire Resistant Protection for Structural Bamboo

I have a question for my research, what would be the best preservation technique to use on structural bamboo? It needs to be fire resistant too. Will a boric acid-borax solution suffice? Or would an additional clear external intumescent coating help? What do you guys think? Thanks in advance. I appreciate the information you guys put here Guadua Bamboo.

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⭐ Best Answer:

Yes, boron is fire retardant but for even more protection you could use the following formula: boric acid / copper sulphate / zinc chloride / sodium dichromate : ratio 3:1:5:6 Recommended concentration is 25% for indoor and outdoor use.

Master Flame - Class A Fire Retardant - 1 Gallon

Master FX, Inc.

Submerging Bamboo in Sea Water

I've read that submerging bamboo in sea water is another traditional treatment of bamboo. How long-lasting will the bamboo be using this treatment?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Let the poles or the splits dry thoroughly under the sun. Then soak them in the sea for 2 months. The dry poles and splits easily absorb all the salt of the sea. This sea-water treatment gives the bamboos at least 50 years of protection from termites, borers and fungi. It’s widely used in Asia and also used for wood treatment. Very safe and natural, very effective and cheap and truly long-lasting. Good luck.

Curing Bamboo Posts for Vineyards

I have read your article about poles and the durability of bamboo but do you think it would be feasible to treat bamboo for use as posts in vineyards? I live in the Margaret river wine growing region of western Australia where thousands of CCA treated pine posts are used.

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⭐ Best Answer:

If treated with a fixating chemical mix such as CCA or CCB, yes. In Costa Rica banana plantations have traditionally been growing bamboo as well, in order to use the bamboo poles as plants support sticks for the banana plants. These bamboo props aren't treated and are replaced every 2 years. Untreated bamboo support sticks are also used in various vegetable crops.

Is there a minimum life span required for vineyard posts? If not, untreated poles might be the cheapest solution, especially if you grow them yourself.

Safe and Ecological Preservation of Bamboo

I am designing a house to suite the emerging middle class in Ghana, looking to understand more about bamboo preservation techniques that offer excellent protection against rot and insects.

From what I’ve read thusfar, it seems that chemical treatments will be most effective, and I am searching for a solution that will be environmentally safe, to both nature and the inhabitants. Any recommendations, especially with regards to being situated in southern Ghana (a hot and humid climate with two distinct rainy seasons each year)?

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⭐ Best Answer:

One of the most effective ways to cure bamboo is by mixing boric acid with borax (you can buy this as a pre-mixed solution under the name: Timbor) in a ratio of 1:1.5 with a concentration of 5%. In other words mix 2kg of boric acid with 3kg of borax in 100 liters of water. Perforate the diaphragms (in case of round poles) and submerge them in the water-boron mix for 4-5 days. The vertical soak diffusion is an alternative method for submerging bamboo in tanks.

Boron is basically a salt, it protects the bamboo from fungus and insect attacks. It is however a non-fixing preservative, which means the boron will leach out in direct contact with rain. This you will have to keep in mind when designing the house.

In regards to its toxicity, boric acid naturally occurs in the environment. It can be found in soil, water, and plants. Boric acid dissolves in water and can move with water through the soil. Under certain soil conditions it can reach ground water. However, its mobility in soil depends on pH and the presence of some metals. Boric acid can also be taken up from the soil by plants. It moves through plants into their leaves. Once there, it generally becomes stuck and does not move into the fruit. Plants need boron, a major component of boric acid, to grow. However, too much boron can be toxic to plants affecting their growth. Citrus, stone fruits, and nut trees are most sensitive to boron.

Boric acid does not emit vapors into the atmosphere. Particles that get into the air do not break down. They settle to the ground or are removed by rain.

Boric acid is practically non-toxic to birds. It is slightly toxic to practically non-toxic to freshwater fish. Boric acid is practically non-toxic to frogs and toads and aquatic life, such as waterfleas. The U.S. EPA concluded that boric acid is relatively nontoxic to bees.

Source: National Pesticide Information Center

Curing Bamboo Immediately after Harvest

What's the notion of this harvesting technique? Cut green culms and place them in a 5 gal. bucket with 3 gals. of a 10 % solution of Timbor (a borax / boric acid solution) in water. This happens in the grove for a month.

Shouldn't the boric solution be drawn up the culm by capillary action yielding a cured culm in a month? After a month remove the culms to finish drying vertically in a shady spot for another month. What do you think?

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⭐ Best Answer:

What you’re describing is a soak-and-draw treatment, it’s basically using the fresh culm’s own capillary action to pull the borax/boric acid solution up and replace the sugars that bugs love. A month standing in the bucket is usually more than enough (even 1–2 weeks should do it), then drying vertically in the shade is the right call to avoid cracks.

Just keep in mind uptake isn’t always even, especially on thicker culms, and older poles (3–5 yrs) will be more durable. For max protection, full soak or sap displacement works better, but this setup can give you serviceable, bug-resistant bamboo (especially for small- to medium-diameter poles).

Nisus Tim-BOR Professional Insecticidal Dust, Water-Soluble Borate Powder, Wood Preservative and Fungicide for Termites, Carpenter Ants, Wood Decay, 1.5 lbs