---
title: 'Danger From Lyctus Beetle: Hardwoods Make War Weapons (Ministry of Supply No. 105)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-danger-from-lyctus-beetle-1941/
description: A factory notice with magnified photographs of the Lyctus beetle and grub, a description of the infestation and a night photograph of soldiers wading
section: Collection
---

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3. Danger From Lyctus Beetle: Hardwoods Make War Weapons

[![Danger From Lyctus Beetle: Hardwoods Make War Weapons, 1941 UK poster: A factory notice with magnified photographs](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-danger-from-lyctus-beetle-1941.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-danger-from-lyctus-beetle-1941.jpg)

# Danger From Lyctus Beetle: Hardwoods Make War Weapons (Ministry of Supply No. 105)

A factory notice with magnified photographs of the Lyctus beetle and grub, a description of the infestation and a night photograph of soldiers wading from a landing craft, captioned 'Hardwoods make war weapons'. The red 'DANGER' headline is the fear appeal; the soldiers' photograph attaches the military stakes to a timber-store chore (transfer).

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Fear appeal](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/fear-appeal/) [Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
DANGER
FROM LYCTUS BEETLE

The Lyctus (or Powder-post) Beetle is about one-fifth of an inch long, narrow and rather flattened in appearance.
The eggs are laid in the sapwood only of most hardwoods.
The grubs, which are curved in shape, bore in the sapwood.
Infestation is recognisable from the WHITE FLOUR-LIKE POWDER which gathers on or beneath attacked wood.
Timber liable to attack by Lyctus includes ASH, OAK, ELM and WALNUT, but not Beech or Birch.
Sappy slabs and offcuts should be cleared to prevent their use as breeding grounds.

LYCTUS BEETLE magnified about 16 times. Varies in colour from reddish-brown to black.
LYCTUS GRUB magnified about 16 times. White with yellowish head and dark brown jaws.

WATCH
HARDWOOD STOCKS
REPORT to your management
SIGNS OF
INFESTATION WITHOUT DELAY

HARDWOODS
MAKE WAR WEAPONS

MINISTRY OF SUPPLY No. 105
```

[← Blood-Poison: One Less Nail in Your Coffin](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-blood-poison-one-less-nail-in-your-coffin-1941/) [Economy: Your Job in the Battle of the Atlantic →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-economy-your-job-in-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-games-1941/)

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