Wood boring beetles from abroad

[buildersmate]

12 months ago, I brought back a ornamental piece of shaped tropical hardwood back from South Africa. It is of mahogany appearance and is heavily varnished.
Now two holes have suddently appeared in the surface of the piece. Both are about 1mm in diameter and are presumably exit holes from an animal(s) cocooned in there. Dust appears at the hole entrance from time to time overnight, so it was living in there?.
The holes are quite deep (at least 15mm) and I attempted to fill them with more varnish. This has resulted in one beetle emerging from the hole which we have caught. It is about 3mm long, dark brown and has a very long body (compared to its thorax).
1) What is the life-cycle of these animals?
2) How do they spread?
I want to avoid any danger of attack to other pieces of hardwood furniture that I have.

[evedawn]

I lived in s. africa for a long time. the most common wood destroying insects are Bamboo Weevil
Wood-boring Weevil
Powder Post Beetle
Bark Borer
Common Furniture Beetle
Steely Blue Beetle
Deathwatch Beetle
Wharfborer
House Longhorn Beetle

The life cycle varies according to the type and the conditions. Some like the powder post beetle can have a life cycle of up to 10 years.

Any wood before leaving south arica oughta have been fumigated with methyl bromide gas ( but obviously most tourists don't know this)

If you've only just noticed the "frass" (powder) it's unlikely to have spread to the rest of you furniture - YET. Methyl Bromide can only be purchased under extremely strict olicencing laws....(it's a KILLER gas) the easiest was for you to "treat" this ornament is to completely submerge it in water for a few days...that will drown the critter. Some people suggest soaking it in paraffin but this does not always work.

hope this L- O-N-G answer helps

[buildersmate]

Thank you Eve - that is very helpful. The one I have caught has no wings so must walk from one place to another, I assume?
Do they lay eggs in a hole, then the grubs burrow their way out?

[evedawn]

So sorry its taken an age to reply!!!!

In answer to your Q : Eggs are laid in crevices in the bark for wood boring species. Larvae develop inside the plant primarily just under the bark for wood borers or inside stems or roots. These larvae then burrow their way out to begin the next generation.

Hopefully this helps - some African carvings are wonderful and it'd be a shame to see em end up as fuel for the firepalce.:-)

[buildersmate]

Thanks very much - I'd given up on you coming back. I'm keeping the piece under observation and nothing more yet.