Wood packaging material is a known vector of wood borer introductions into new regions. Scientists conducted studies to determine the effectiveness of current international heat treatment standards for killing wood boring insects. Study results demonstrated that most, but not all, borers were killed using current standards but may still pose some risk of harboring invasive wood borers.

Historically, many inadvertent introductions of wood borers have been linked to untreated wood packaging material (WPM). To reduce this risk, the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) was developed by the International Plant Protection Convention. ISPM 15 defines approved heat and fumigation treatment options for WPM with the goal of preventing the international movement of invasive insects and disease organisms. Researchers from the Northern Research Station tested the efficacy of the current heat treatment standard that requires a temperature of 56 °C to be maintained at the core center of individual wood pieces for a minimum of 30 minutes. Scientists also compared other wood core temperatures above and below 56 °C and various chamber temperatures. Bolts cut from trees that were naturally infested with different wood borer species were used for the experiment. Results demonstrated that as both wood core and/or chamber temperatures increased, wood borer mortality also increased. At the 56 °C wood core temperature, most wood borers were killed but a few still survived. However, when wood core temperature was maintained at 60 °C for 30 minutes, no wood borers survived. Results indicate the current ISPM 15 heat treatment standard for WPM greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of WPM harboring wood borers that could inadvertently be introduced into new regions.