What type of pests may listening devices help to hear?

Listening devices are particularly useful for detecting certain types of pests that create audible sounds as they chew or burrow into wood or other materials. In the context of the question, damaging beetles, such as powderpost beetles or furniture beetles, can produce sounds while they are actively feeding on wood structures, walls, or furniture. By utilizing listening devices, one can pick up these specific sounds, allowing for easier detection and monitoring of infestations before they result in significant damage.

The other options involve scenarios where sounds may not be as easily detectable or relevant to the utility of listening devices. For instance, termites in the soil might not create sounds that are easily picked up, and while rodents in an attic can make noise, they are generally located in areas more accessible to visual or other physical inspection. Spiders, on the other hand, do not create audible sounds worth monitoring, making listening devices ineffective for detecting their presence. Hence, the focus on damaging beetles chewing in walls or furniture highlights the unique capability of listening devices to assist in identifying these wood-destroying pests.