bad bug?
 

not a spider this time. take a look at the photos below and see if you recognize the culprit. i have a few carpenter bee's around so i am pretty sure its not them in this case. new dug-fir post that stays dry year around in old redwood structure about 6 feet off the ground. intrusion is definitely with the soft grain between the harder rings in the post. not a lot of saw dust like i see with the carpenter bee's. anyone?




http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1317595331.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1317595358.jpg

Looks like regular ol termite damage Toby.

Looks like powderpost bugs to me we have them here in hawaii they like soft wood like mango and soft koa. They leave trails of powder like sand.

not powderpost beetle...they only leave very tiny holes and powder fine saw dust.

Termites.

Looks like termite damage although they typically need a tube or other dark way to get to where they feed. What's above it? If they can't get to it from below, there's got to be a pathway someplace.

Blast the whole thing with termite killer and be done with it. Check the framing above and reads anything compromised. Sleep easy.

^^^ That.

Put a stethoscope to it and listen for munching and crunching. :D

Tap/hit it with a hammer to see if it's soft/hollow/damaged.