Woodworm Treatment
Woodworm can structurally damage timber and it is important infestations are dealt with. There are a number of effective insecticides used in treating woodworm. A survey by an experienced timber treatment company is recommended if a woodworm infestation is detected.
Woodworm Beetle
Adult woodworm beetles lay their eggs into the wood, and the larvae from these eggs infest the timber. The timber is the food source of these larvae. The eggs of woodworm beetles can take up to ten years to hatch, and it is this which causes woodworm treatment problems as unless all eggs are destroyed re-infestation can occur.
Woodworm larvae take up to 6 weeks to move through the pupae to the adult stages. Adults usually lay new eggs within 2-3 weeks of emerging from the pupae.
Woodworm prevention is primarily through the application of wood preserver containing insecticide. Unfortunately wood preservers are ineffective once an infestation has begun, and woodworm treatment is required.
Wood Boring Insects
There are a number of species of beetle whose larvae are classed as woodworm, and the most common species in the UK are listed below:
- Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium Punctatum)
- Death Watch Beetle (Xestobium Rufovillosum)
- House Longhorn Beetle (Hylotrupes Bajulus)
- Powder Post Beetle (Lyctus Brunneus)
Common Furniture Beetle
Woodworm infestation of the common furniture beetle is generally not devastating, unless there is a particularly large attack or the wood is damp with a small cross section. It is the most common species of woodworm beetle found in the UK.
The common furniture beetle can be identified by the small round holes which are left on the surface of the wood. These holes are roughly 1.5-2mm in diameter. They often leave a gritty bore dust behind.
Woodworm treatment for the common furniture beetle is usually very effective. Boron treatments are recommended, as it is possible to re-enter the house once it has dried (although at least an hour must have passed). Permethrin is an alternative woodworm treatment, although it has a stronger odour and can be dangerous to pets. Woodworm may be seen for up to a year after the initial treatment.
Death Watch Beetle
The death watch beetle creates larger holes than the common furniture beetle, and causes severe structural damage. These beetles are mainly found in the south of England, with adult woodworm beetles emerging between March and June.
Treating woodworm infestations of the death watch beetle can be ineffective as it has a long life cycle. The best woodworm treatment methods are to drill and inject a chemical treatment. This should be followed up by spraying or painting the wood surface with woodworm treatment. The paint should also be applied in the area surrounding the woodworm infestation. Annual inspections are required.
Powder Post Beetle
The powder post beetle tunnels into the timber along the grain, which leads to a weakened wood structure. In many cases the affected timber will need to be replaced, although less severe infestations can be dealt with spraying and injecting as in the case of the death watch beetle.
House Longhorn Beetle
The house longhorn beetle also causes serve structural damage, and while not common in the UK it is found in some areas of Surrey. The larvae are large and create 6-8mm oval holes in the timber. Treatment of the house longhorn beetle should not be attempted and it is a notifiable pest. Professional, qualified timber treatment experts should be used.
Water based emulsion liquids can control most wood boring beetles, and are applied either via a spray or brush. They are less noxious than spirit based methods, but are less effective against deep boring insects like the death watch beetle. Spirit based methods are also sprayed or painted on, and penetrate the wood better than water based liquids. However, they do create noxious fumes.