barrel boring beetle

We just had a huge flush of these little bastards. They are ubiquitous in late May/Early June in the SCM. I pretty much have to keep all doors closed and avoid moving any barrels outside for a few days till they go away.

Does anyone know what these guys are really called (sci. name?)? Any other info? No one seems to know much that i have spoken with.

I believe there are hundreds and hundreds of species of wood boring beetles so I’m not sure exactly what kind(s) you’re seeing but in Sonoma I’ve heard people refer to them as Leadcable Borers.

Mike

Welcome, Mike!

So these beetles essentially just bore their way in, rendering the (pricey) barrel useless?

I haven’t had problems with these guys in quite a few years but I remember a batch of FF barrels I got back in 02 had them. I started seeing tiny holes apearing a month after I brought them in. I called around to find a fix, and was told by a handful of other WMers to screw a vinyl coated, or stainless screw into the hole. It worked pretty damn well, but they are a PITA.
They do seem to have a quick hatch and then are gone.
Great to see you here, Mike!

So these beetles essentially just bore their way in, rendering the (pricey) barrel useless?

Not exactly. If the barrel is full, as soon as they hit a depth in which they encounter wine, they’re usually killed. Of course, now you may have a slow leaker. On an empty, chances are they will bore all the way through so when you fill the barrel, you have more than a slow leaker and something that requires immediate attention. In either case, not the end of the world. You just get really good at plugging holes with spiles. However, the beetles seem to have a knack for going in right where the head joins at the croze. Holes there can be a real bitch sometimes to plug.

Mike

P.S. - Thanks for the welcome Todd and John.

Once Frankie (Murray III) figures out Mike’s hanging around, we might see more of him on here…

I tried to do some research on them a few years ago and did not come up with much not already said here. There are indeed many species of borers, and they are pretty much everywhere. So some indeed may have come from France already in your wood, others came from right outside the winery.

Phil Burton of Barrel Builders just sent a note out that I quote below. I have tried spraying their holes with alcohol and with SO2, with inconclusive results. The bugs in sprayed holes never got to wine, but I don’t know if that had to do with my spraying.

Here’s Phil’s note:
"Thought I should get a quick note out to you about Bore bugs.
'Tis the season and it’s here in spades, promising to be worse than most.

1.) If you have to work barrels outside, do it early in the morning.
2.) Keep doors closed.
3.) Keep lights off in the cellar if you can -
Bores are bugged by the dark - and they are not attracted to bug zapper lights."

We use uncoated toothpicks for the really tiny holes.

In one of Yair Margalit’s winemaking books he advocated painting the empty barrels with linseed oil to prevent wood borers. (I think it was a practice from Napa.) I would be to worried about that creating taint. Anyone hear of painting the barrel with linseed oil?

I spray outside of barrels with sulfur water and let it dry. Haven’t seen wood borers since.