What do you think when you hear the term “woodworm”? Most people will associate the term with an abundance of tiny holes on your door frames, similar to that of a dartboard; and rightly so, this is indeed one of the most recognisable signs of an infestation. But, there’s much more to woodworm than little dark holes.
Believe it or not, woodworm has a very interesting lifecycle and also leave behind them a number of clues to which can help us answer the all-important question, “is the infestation active or not?”
What is Woodworm?
Woodworm is the common term used to refer to the larvae of all wood-boring beetles. There are several species found in the UK, but most of the damage is caused by the offspring of the Common Furniture beetle.
What does a woodworm look like?
Woodworm larvae are usually a creamy white colour and have curved bodies. It’s highly unlikely you’ll ever actually see woodworm larvae, as they stay hidden munching away on timber until they are fully-grown.
Life Cycle of Woodworm
Within the woodworm lifecycle, there are 4 main stages woodworm beetles go through:
- Woodworm begins breeding
- Woodworm larvae hatch
- Woodworm larvae start to eat
- Larvae turn into woodworm beetle – starting the whole process again
How Does Woodworm Get Into Your Home?
Infected timber.
Whether it’s your grandparent’s furniture, Del Boy’s Queen Anne cabinet or simply firewood, if you bring infected timber into your home you’re at risk of an infestation. Once in your property, the beetle will look for cracks, crevices and existing exit holes for places it can lay its eggs.
The eggs hatch downward into the timber and produce larvae. It is at this point that the damage is caused to the timber as the larvae eats its way up and down the timber.
These larvae will eventually pupate after anywhere between two and five years before emerging as an adult beetle, ready to mate and start the process again.
How Can I Spot Woodworm?
There are a number of ways to spot woodworm, for example, the Deathwatch Beetle makes a ticking noise as it bangs its head against the wood, if you live in Camberley your home to the House Longhorn Beetle, an exclusive beetle indigenous to the Surrey area. See, told you woodworm was ‘un-boring’.
The three common signs preservation specialists look out for are:
- Exit Holes
These holes are typically between one and three millimetres in diameter. They are made by the woodworm as they eat their way to the surface of the timber. The presence of these holes alone do not necessarily indicate a live infestation, however, new holes will tend to have a lighter shade of colour.
- Frass
Frass is the excrement of the beetle, it’s gritty, it looks like wood shavings, and will more often than not be found around the exit holes. The presence of frass indicates there has been recent larval activity which isn’t good news, but not terrible, as long as you act on it promptly.
- Live Beetles
The most obvious indication of a woodworm infestation is, in fact, the beetles themselves. They are commonly found in close proximity to the infected timber or are sometimes spotted near windowsills as they fly towards the light.
How to identify an Active Woodworm Infestation
The real way to see if woodworm is active in the wood is to look out for any frass, which is the name given to woodworm droppings. The droppings look like fine sawdust and will usually be around the holes in the infected wood.
What Attracts Woodworm?
Whilst moisture is a leading factor resulting in a woodworm infestation, some species of woodboring insects, such as the woodboring weevil, are only found where fungal rot has already begun.
How Do You Treat Woodworm?
There are a number of methods of woodworm treatment, the most common being a water-based spray treatment (woodworm killer) due to its effectiveness and its efficiency in killing the insect. The solution absorbs into the timber over a period of about an hour, killing all living woodworm and eggs near the surface.
What is the cost of Woodworm Treatment?
As a guide, treating your home with pesticide to eradicate all lifecycle stages of woodworm causing beetles will cost anything between £500 and £1000. This is just a guide price because the overall price you pay will depend on factors such as:
- The treatment method you use.
- The size of your house.
- The extent of the infestation and the treatment agent used.
If persistent or seasonal damp is a problem you face, you can opt for leave-in boron rods which will continue protecting the timber for years. These rods cost under £40 for 10 rods, which will turn out very expensive if you have an extensive damp problem.
Types of Wood Boring Beetles
There are 11 main types of wood-boring beetles. In this video, you can discover the main types of woodworm and wood-boring insects that could be eating the timber in your home or business premises.
Does Woodworm Spread?
Woodworm does spread because adult female beetles will lay their eggs in the cracks of moist wood so that the eggs can be established safely. The larva will then burrow into the wood so that the initial signs of an infestation may be hidden.
Can I Treat Woodworm Myself?
If your woodworm problem only affects small items such as furniture, you can effectively treat it yourself using the right techniques and treatments. You can easily treat Common Furniture beetles with a brush, dip or spray application of a Permethrin-based woodworm treatment on all timbers affected by woodworm.
How to prevent woodworm infestation?
Woodworm prefers timber with higher moisture levels. By keeping humidity levels low and ensuring the wood is well ventilated and dry you will help to prevent a woodworm problem from occurring. This is as easy as opening up a window on a daily basis to ensure good regular airflow throughout your property.
Should I Panic About Woodworm?
If you own an art gallery or antique shop, yes lose it! But for the average homeowner, your concerns can be resolved efficiently by speaking to a specialist. The treatment can be completed ordinarily in under half a day and the water-based solution will protect your timber from further decay in the years to come.
Read also: How to get rid of wasps nests