Opilo domesticus

(Latin: Opilo domesticus)

This beetle can often be found in a loft where wood-boring beetles are attacking the timber.

The adult beetle kills and eats many of the adult wood-boring beetles while its larvae hunt the larvae of wood- borers and house longhorns in their own tunnels.

In doing so they have to dig their way through wood dust and in true mole fashion they eject this material through the exit-holes forming little ‘mole-hills’.

Opilo domesticus is a natural enemy of timber pests.

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Henri Mourier

Biologist at Statens Skadedyrslaboratorium

Author of:
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)