The attached picture is not so good, but as you might be able to see, he is brown, and may be dragging something reddish behind him on his way out of the hole.

Next to the hole that this guy came out of is another hole where we see sawdust being pushed out of the hole.

Can anyone help me with some suggestions as to what this critter is?

Thanks!

I did search for "wood boring incests", looked at photos, and found this:

Wood-Boring Beetles | Home Inspection Columbia, MO

Specifically the Lyctid Beetle looks like your varmit.

I did some looking too... and did find the Lyctid Beetle (Lyctidae: aka Powderpost Beetle)... but it seems too long.

I was thinking that the one in the pic looks more like Anobiidae: "Deathwatch Beetle"... but just not sure.

I've got the wood item in a bag and am hoping to coax him out today so that I can get a better look at him and take a better picture.

For reference:

Links to the 3 main household wood boring insects:
Household Wood -Boring Insects

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7418.html

Pictures:

1. Lyctidae (Powderpost Beetle).

2. Anobiidae (Deathwatch Beetle).

3. Bostrichidae (false Powderpost Beetle).

I've got the item in a pan. When they come out next I'll get a better picture and post it here.

I've tried blowing smoke in the holes - and tried putting a drop of water in them... but I'm having a hard time coaxing them out.

I found a much better link for learning more about how to distinguish between the three:
Wood-Boring Beetles in Homes Management Guidelines--UC IPM

I'll keep trying to coax them out - and read more to see what I need to do to be sure that I don't have an infestation.

The item in my first pic is an item that a new tenant brought to one of our apartments.

There's been no evidence of them previously - so I'm hoping that the problem is limited to this one item.

Well hey, look. I'm learning! :)