a beetle of the families Lymexylonidae and Brentidae (Coleoptera) whose larvae are wood borers and cause pinhole damage (referred to as wormy wood) similar to ambrosia beetles but with the galleries free of bore dust and stain —note timberworms such as the oak timberworm (Arrhenodes minutus) attack living, dying, and freshly dead hardwoods in the eastern United States —synonym brentid beetle This definition last updated 10/01/2008