1. bores through wood making a ticking sound popularly thought to presage death Familiarity information: DEATHWATCH BEETLE used as a noun is very rare. During mating season, mature deathwatch beetles make tapping or ticking sounds by hitting their heads against the wood to attract mates. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! Definition of death-watch beetle in the Definitions.net dictionary. Information and translations of death-watch beetle in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. These particular insects are renowned for making a tapping or knocking sound, which it does by bumping its head or jaws against the sides of the tunnels as it is creating bore tunnels in timber; which is usually in old hardwood timber. Plural form of deathwatch beetle. Meaning of deathwatch beetle. Deathwatch beetle definition: a beetle , Xestobium rufovillosum, whose woodboring larvae are a serious pest . Noun . deathwatch beetle (plural deathwatch beetles) Any of various beetles of the family Anobiidae, especially Xestobium rufovillosum, that bore into wood and make a tapping sound. What does deathwatch-beetles mean? Deathwatch definition is - a small insect that makes a ticking sound; especially : deathwatch beetle. Synonyms for deathwatch beetle include woodworm, grub, insect, larva, pest, worm and furniture beetle. Dictionary entry overview: What does deathwatch beetle mean? The adult... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Usually found in buildings boring into wooden furniture and structures, the Death Watch Beetle received its name from the belief that the tapping sound it generated in the house predicted a death in the family. Deathwatch beetles are pests that are known for damaging wooden furniture and the wooden structures of a building. The beetle actually makes this noise to communicate and attract a mate. (noun) This led the deathwatch beetle’s tapping to later be correlated with the Grim Reaper because the tapping noises were heard in silent homes and people began to think the sound was a bad omen meaning death. This sound is heard quite clearly on quiet nights in old houses. The sound the beetles make is said to resemble a ticking watch, and is sometimes believed to herald death. Attested (as death watch) from the late 17th century. Meaning of death-watch beetle. Definition of deathwatch beetle in the Definitions.net dictionary. • DEATHWATCH BEETLE (noun) The noun DEATHWATCH BEETLE has 1 sense:. Deathwatch Beetle, (Xestobium rufovillosum), is a woodboring insect which has the potential to carry out extensive damage to timber which it may affect. Information and translations of deathwatch beetle in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Deathwatch Beetle has a variegated appearance as a result of having patches of ‘yellowish’ hairs. 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