Half Inch Round Holes in Subfloor. Pest?

Jim
by Jim

There seems to be almost perfectly round roughly 1/2 inch holes in our plywood subfloor. We recently had the home sprayed for dry wood termites but based on everything I researched this doesn’t look like termites. Any ideas?

  14 answers
  • Is it not possible that the hole has always been there it was just filled. Movement in the floor has worked the repair loose. Just an idea. Insects are not normal considerate enough to eat our homes and still make it pretty. 🤣

  • Jenn Jenn on Jun 21, 2020

    Carpenter bees make perfectly round holes in wood. Do you have any of them flying around

  • My guess is it's always been there. Carpenter bees leave a much smoother hole. I would check for any other holes that look the same, and if you find any, call you exterminator back.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Jun 21, 2020

    I would think it was in the subflooring all along here is some idea on how to repair it


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHZpC9Iq5Bk

  • William William on Jun 21, 2020

    Looks like the holes were there and patched which didn't hold.

  • Dee Dee on Jun 21, 2020

    It could be carpenter ants. but it looks like the wood just may have been like this


  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jun 21, 2020

    Did the exterminator drill the holes? I would ask and also have them recheck so you know for sure. Good luck and stay safe!

    • Tom Stuart Tom Stuart on Jun 22, 2020

      I think Cynthia has the right answer. The exterminators have to get to the termites so they drill holes to spray. Because this is a subfloor they just made a quick patch to block the hole. Check with your exterminator.

  • Homeroad Homeroad on Jun 22, 2020

    Could it be carpenter bees? They make a perfect 1/2" hole.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jun 22, 2020

    Hello there,

    If the missing plaster is over the nail or screw fixings, then it has" popped" Should have been taped first before plastering. Use a spackle or general filler to fill the holes. Hope that helps.

  • Tom Stuart Tom Stuart on Jun 22, 2020

    I think Cynthia has the right answer. The exterminators have to get to the termites so they drill holes to spray. Because this is a subfloor they just made a quick patch to block the hole. Check with your exterminator.

  • JennaKravitz JennaKravitz on Mar 30, 2022

    Carpenter bees may have caused this. It would be good to contact an insect removal service like https://www.pestkeen.com/tiny-white-bugs/. I ran into carpenter bees a few years ago, and it was a curse. They spoiled almost all my furniture in the cottage. Interestingly, I hadn't noticed them in our area before, and I still can't figure out what caused their sudden invasion. They are hard to get rid of, even though male bees are not poisonous and rarely show aggression toward humans. What is the situation now?



  • Randy Randy on Dec 04, 2022

    This is drain holes drilled during construction to drain rainwater off the subfloor.


    No harm whatsoever.

  • Mogie Mogie on Dec 05, 2022

    Did you contact the exterminator to see if they drilled the holes in the subfloor?