Woodboring Beetle

Woodworm is a collective term for several species of wood boring insects (beetle) whose larvae infect timber.

The most common species of woodboring beetles in the UK are:

• Common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum)
• Death Watch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum)
• Powder post beetles (Lyctodae and Bostrychidae Lyctidae)
• House Longhorn Beetle (Hylotruped bajulus)

Eggs are laid on the surface of timber (or in cracks) when they hatch, will burrow into the wood and live off the timber for many years.

Once the larvae are mature, they form a pupa or chrysalis, and eventually emerge from the wood as adult beetles leaving characteristic emergence holes.

It is a cyclical process which needs to be broken and completely eradicated as any number of wood boring insects can pose a serious threat to a wooden structure.

Identification prior to treatment

It is essential to establish whether an infestation is active or historic before considering treatment.

An active infestation can be identified by:

Presence of frass - live larvae in the timber – adult beetles during the fly-out season.

Treatment

Should repairs to timbers structure be required, these should be carried out before any treatment.

Prepare the timber surface to be treated by brushing down dust to allow fluid penetration before treatment.

Apply treatment by brush or by low / high pressure spray depending on the location/area to be treated.

After Treatment

Children, vulnerable adults and animals should be kept away from the treated area during treatment and for 24hours after treatment.

For more information on woodworm infestation in buildings visit the Property Care Association website: www.property-care.org