Which pest typically causes heavy damage to finished woods with only a few exit holes?

The old-house borer is known for causing significant damage to finished wood, and it can be identified by the relatively few exit holes it leaves behind. This pest, belonging to thewoodboring beetle family, specifically targets older, structural wood that has begun to decay. Adult old-house borers create exit holes that are typically around 1/4 inch in diameter, and while they may only leave a small number of exit points, their larvae can tunnel extensively within the wood for several years, resulting in substantial damage over time.

In contrast, the other pests listed have different behaviors and damage patterns. The wood wasp, while also a wood-boring insect, tends to leave larger exit holes and its lifecycle may not align with the extensive damage patterns seen in older, decaying wood. Carpenter bees primarily create cavities in wood for nesting rather than substantially damaging it through feeding. Drywood termites cause damage but usually manifest much larger exit holes and can often be identified by the presence of frass, which is the excrement they leave behind. Thus, the old-house borer's specific characteristics align closely with the question regarding significant damage with fewer exit holes.