I did a frame inspection yesterday and found a couple studs that look like they have damage from beetles. If you look closely, there’s sawdust in the holes. Could this be any active infestation? If so, could this affect the rest of the framing members? I’m not WDI certified and have been trying to figure this out all night. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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If just a couple of studs probably powder post beetle, or such, before the log was milled & cut into 2x4s…would be my guess.
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Looks like either Old House Borers or Anobiidae beetles.
I doubt it is a hardwood. Most all will be a softwood for beetles.
Powder post beetles (Lyctids) only infest hardwoods like on some furniture, hardwood floors.
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To me, in Minnesota, those look like pine beetle tunnels and frass. The larvae bore into the wood of fresh pine logs that are not processed in a timely manner and still have the bark on. Definitely not power post beetles. Pine beetles bite and they hurt a lot. Northern kids learn about them at a young age.
Edit: Not an active infestation any more. They are long gone and the wood will not support larvae any more.
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Powder post beetles do infest pine log homes in MN, although the damage is mostly aesthetic.
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The PPB damage most likely looks like a mini shotgun went off with little holes?
We both know the OP pics damage is quite large.
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Update: Thanks for the replies, they are very helpful and helping me explain this to the client. Glad to know it is not an active infestation!
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I would change that opinion to… “Glad to know it is not likely an active infestation!”
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I would have written it up as a damaged post was viewed at XX location, the damage viewed was the possible result of WDI, and recommend further evaluation by a licensed WDI inspector be performed.
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I’m a little surprised you would warrant that recommendation for couple of studs, Kev. Maybe being there would give a different view?
When in doubt, refer out. 
I’m licensed for WDI so I would have made the call onsite, but if I wasn’t, I for sure would recommend a WDI inspection, if for nothing else than CYA.
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For what the picture shows, it is hard for me to imagine…but to each their own I guess.
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just looking at the picture, i would say something to the effect of “Damage observed on wood frame members appeared to be inactive and caused by insects before lumber was milled.” and if asked, i would verbally tell them what it was most likely and that it was most likely inactive but should be kept under observation at the minimum just in case. i am not required in wv to render an opinion on the absence of wdi, but to see damage like that and not mention it in writing seems to me opening me up to liablitiy. i also wear a body camera and narrate the inspection so it would likely be mentioned so i would think that would be the reason to write something about it, if nothing else just to let them know i was compentent and didn’t just miss it.
Just a point for conversation and not necessarily concerning this defect.
You will drive yourself crazy with this “justifying our existence” framework. Which leads to reports full of fluff. Fluffy reports reek of lack of confidence.
My recommendation, take a photo for your records. If the customer asks if you saw the damage the straight answer is “Yes, I assessed that and determined it was not material defect.”
The hard truth is, the customer will come up with all kinds of things they question. We manage expectations up front then deliver to that standard.
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great idea and excellent advice. just in time too. i have an inspection today that the homeowner said had a basement added tot he single story brick house years ago. i was not aware you could just add a basement, at least not easily, so this should be interesting. and this comment was right on time for it. thanx.
That will be interesting. In my area, I have seen dugout basements derived from a crawlspace. They are typically much smaller than the footprint of the home. Watch out for the soil excavation around the footings, they love to cut it close 
Get yourself some basic understanding of the “Angle of Repose”.
You would be surprised how often this knowledge comes in handy.
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I know the pics are horrendous.
Here is a 100 year old home. Once used for coal, boiler etc. the basement footprint was expanded slightly, shoring added. It is cool to see the old shoring and the new shoring and where additional shoring is needed in one location because the soil was migrating down. Time for an engineer.
New shoring
This wall to the left was not performing well
Performing well here
yeah, after seeing it i realized i’ve seen it before. it was well done i guess, finished at least, but damn there were some issues. it looked like the cracks had stopped but who knows. the built a room addition on a deck. it was not going well and the sliding door didn’t open or close completely even had the feed wire to the electrical panel just hanging on the side of the wall in the crawlspace. yeah, glad i talked to the client’s dad at the end. he knew about some of the issues and i told him that it wasn’t that bad of a house, just as long as he knew what he was getting into. i’ve seen some of the hack jobs they do in wv and not all of them are bad or unsafe, but you never can tell with some until it’s too late. it will make a decent first home for his son he thinks.
