The destruction of oak by the death-watch beetle

Abstract
Larvae of Xestobium attack the carbohydrates of the cell-wall of the wood, particularly the cellulose. Since the lignin content of borings or frass is high, lignin is probably unavailable to the intestinal microflora. Using the lignin contents of undamaged wood and frass as the basis of calculation, the loss of weight undergone in severe attack appears to be about 1/3, 80% of which is accounted for by the cellulose removed.