Lyctid beetle attack is commonplace in a significant proportion of spotted gum utility poles that are air seasoned prior to chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treatment. While this damage is allowed, there are no reports quantifying the effects of the beetle galleries on pole properties. Full scale testing would require substantial quantities of poles in order to obtain a range of degrees of damage. Small-scale testing could provide a simple method for rapidly assessing damage and be used to determine whether full scale testing was warranted. The potential for using longitudinal compression strength for quantifying lyctid damage was assessed on sawn spotted gum sapwood samples. While strength loss was positively correlated with increased beetle attack, the differences between test groups were slight. The results suggest that minor powder post beetle damage was not detrimental to compressive strength and supports the current standards allowing permitting this defect in poles. Research is ongoing.

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