Several species of lyctine (powderpost) beetle are able to attack a range of hardwood timbers in Australia. Powderpost beetles infest only the starch-containing sapwood of certain hardwoods and do not infest softwoods. Attack by powderpost beetles on susceptible timber in Australia is almost inevitable and may continue until the food resource is completely utilised. Prevention of powderpost beetle attack is preferable to curative measures. The Australian hardwood resource is increasingly being obtained from younger regrowth and planted forests rather than mature forests. The resource is also beginning to include other species not previously utilised. There is no information on lyctine susceptibility of these species of eucalypts, hybrid eucalypts and some acacias. Some of these timbers are not widely utilised, yet may have unique properties on the world market for high-value niche applications. Consumer legislation places constraints on the sale and use of susceptible timber in the States of New South Wales and Queensland. Currently, the majority of these timbers are regarded as provisionally susceptible in both States due to the lack of testing and historical record. For the first time in Australia, a sampling and testing protocol to establish lyctine susceptibility of timber species is detailed. The usefulness and limitations of the protocol are discussed.

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