Death Watch Beetles: Death Watch Beetles will infest both hardwood and softwood lumber.Produce round exit holes from 1/16” to 1/8” in diameter. Their frass is very gritty to the touch. Required moisture content for development is between 13-30%. A loud tapping sound against the wood surface is a mating call. Egg to adult can take from 1 year to as long as 3 years.