Something is boring into Mahogany Logs - Help Identify Culprit & Recommend Best Actions to Control

Currently spending some time in Cuba and recently salvaged a couple of mahogany logs (trees being cut down for road works). The logs were debarked and left on a covered patio to dry while I decided what I would build with wood.

I recently noticed that something is boring into the log. The diameter of the hole is about 1mm, I probed the holes with a wire and they extend in about 1 to 2 cm, not sure if the path of the hole then has a turn or not. I have been unable to see any of the boring insects. I am not sure if it is an entrance or exit hole? See photos.


Based on what I was able to quickly find on the internet, it is not termites as they do not produce sawdust/frass, but is more likely some sort of boring beetle?

I would like to identify what the insect is and figure out the best non-toxic treatment to eradicate this pest.

A couple more photos

Hi, P Lyons....I've added your topic to 'woodworking' in hopes that you get some answers to your question.

Probably post borer, try borax and water, just try not to get borax on the earth, or waterway or septic....

If you have access to it, you might try submerging the logs in water, at least for a while. This will drown the bugs in the wood, and prevent others from getting in. When I lived in Bangladesh it was common for woodworkers to simply store their logs in the water until they were ready to work with them. I think soft wood like pine might be tempted to rot this way or crack badly after sawing up, but these were dense tropical hardwoods.