Do old house borers prefer new or fresh wood?

Old house borers, scientifically known as Hylotrupes bajulus, typically do not prefer new or fresh wood, which makes the answer correct. These wood-boring beetles primarily infest wood that has already been seasoned or dried, often targeting wood that has been in place for some time. The larvae develop inside the wood, and they thrive in timber that is older and often already damaged or rotting. Fresh or newly cut wood lacks the conditions that the larvae seek for growth, such as the presence of specific fungi that are typically associated with older wood. Thus, stating that old house borers prefer fresh wood is inaccurate, reinforcing why the answer is false.