Woodworm, House Borer, Common Furniture Beetle.

Custom Search

woodworm
What a fascinating creature but unfortunately the Woodworm, Common Furniture Beetle or House Borer is most unwelcome when it damages your antique furniture!

This beetle also likes softwood structural timbers and loves plywood made from birch and even enjoys a meal of wickerwork! The larval little caterpillar takes up to three years tunnelling its way out of the wood and emerges during the summer months as a small brown beetle.

The life cycle of these Household Pests

• The adult Wood Borer lays groups of two or three eggs in cracks or joints in unpainted wood or old woodworm holes.
• The eggs hatch into caterpillar like larvae that tunnel into the wood leaving no noticeable entry hole.
• It is capable of creating 2 inches (5cm) of tunnel every year.
• It emerges during the Summer months as a small brown beetle.

Controlling Methods

• To eradicate this furniture beetle in structural timbers and floorboards, professional and guaranteed treatments are preferred.
• For precious furniture articles, test the given specific insecticide on unseen surfaces first.
• Just wiping the surface of the damaged article with turpentine, as in days of old, will not give permanent eradication.
• Use a specific insecticide and follow instructions carefully. For extra penetration into damaged wood, use a special injector with a nozzle to kill these pests in their holes.
• Professional fumigation procedures of valuable items is an alternative. This gas mixture will kill this household pests in all its stages
• To prevent re-infestation of unpolished areas of furniture, there are special insecticidal polishes which when applied regularly but only occasionally, will prevent adult beetles laying their eggs in these treated areas.

Zap Household Pests

Remember to keep a good eye on any infested items. Check them regularly. If you see any new holes or any further evidence of sawdust, do treat the article again. Unfortunately, it may take a few years of home treatments to finally eradicate the beastie from its comfortable home!

Click here to return to more information about Household Pests

and here to wander around the interesting SITE MAP


Click here to leave Woodworm and return to the HOME PAGE