Woodworm/Beetle Infestation

Rather than a specific species, woodworm is the term used to describe the larvae of multiple wood eating beetle. It is also a generic description given to the infestation of a wooden item, usually part of a property’s infrastructure.

Most commonly here in the UK, we tend to see four main species, these include:

Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium punctatum)

Death-watch Beetle (Xestobium rufuvillosum)

House Longhorn Beetle (hylotrupes bajulus)

Powder post Beetle (Lyctus brunneus)

All these species consume wood, laying their larvae inside which leave once they have reached maturity. 

Wood boring beetles originated and evolved consuming dead wood in various forest habitats, it is therefor no surprise woodworm/beetle are found in timber with a higher moisture content then normal. Anything above 18% moisture content in timber is ideal for the beetle to lay their larvae. 

Poor sub floor ventilation, failed damp proof courses or water ingress can all saturate un treated timber to raise the moisture content to the ideal percentage needed to support the life cycle of wood boring beetle. 

Don’t panic, holes in the timber are not necessarily a sign of active infestation by wood boring insects, known as flight holes, they could be historic and pose no further threat. 

 Yes given the right circumstances.

Woodworm will continue its life cycle over and over given the right habitat with enough moist timber. Although common myth has it woodworm can spread throughout the full house, myth is all this is as woodworm needs sufficient moisture content in timber to be able to support their life cycle. Beetles will not lay their eggs on dry wood opting for wood with a moisture content above 18%. 

Establishing whether the woodworm is active or dormant should be number one priority. Looking for frass around the exit holes should be you starting point, failing this applying a coat of emulsion paint to the affected area will help determine if they are active or not, if holes appear after time it points towards the infestation is active.

Determine which timbers have been structurally weakened and need to be replaced using a pre-treated timber.

Identify the species of wood beetle responsible for the infestation, this should be carried out by a trained professional to stop misdiagnosis which in turn lead to the incorrect treatments being carried out. 

Treating woodworm begins by stopping the source of moisture, e.g. leaking pipe, rising damp, poor ventilation. 

Replace any timber sufficiently weakened by the infestation.

Spray both sides of any affected timber using a commercial pesticide, including all other 

accessible timber to stop any further outbreak or reoccurring infestation. 

Sometimes fumigation is required to treat the Death-watch beetle, it is effectively ‘smoked out’ during its annual flight season. Another option to treat the death-watch beetle Is by injecting a pesticide gel deep within any affected timber. Death-watch beetle is by far the hardest to treat as it burrows deep within the wood it feeds on.

As with all chemicals it is important to take extreme care while handling and using them, a professional should treat any severe infestation with extensive damage.

Contact us today if you have any further questions about treating woodworm.