According to historical data, this year could be a particularly bad year for damage by woodboring insects.
But why? Well, after an egg has been laid and the larvae has burrowed deep into the timber, it takes 3 ½ to 4 years for the larvae to fully develop. Considering the stats say increased sightings were noted during 2005, this year could see a much larger crop of emerging insects than usual.
Did you know that it is actually the emerging beetle e.g. common furniture beetle or deathwatch beetle (which has pupated from its larval stage) that causes problems? It is the visible exit hole they leave behind when they get to the surface of the timber that produces the instantly recognisable woodworm holes which can damage your floorboards, priceless Georgian furniture, wooden flat-pack cupboards or those quaint antique beams – they aren’t too fussy!
Hmm, this has got me worrying about the antique writing desk I inherited from my grandfather last year – I will keep a close eye on it this year. Pay attention between the months of May and October which are called the “Flight Season”. Sounds like some kind of beetle F1 type racing, or in this case flying, championship. Except having flying winners only make you losers at home because it indicates you have a woodworm infestation!
So what can you do if you spot signs of damage – see left? Well, it depends on the size of the infestation actually. If you are seeing holes in the woodwork or (even worse) the actual beetles, you definitely have a real problem.
Read more about specialist woodworm treatments & services or DIY products you could try.
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6 Comments
Very interesting. But what kind of damage do they cause to the wood? It just looks like tiny holes on the surface of the wood – does not look particularly harmful to me.
Hmm …………. in my naivity I thought the holes were the woodworm burrowing in?! Is there some way to easily tell whether woodworm holes are ‘fresh’ or that your furniture is actually ‘clean’ and that the infestation is well gone!
The emmergence seasons of Deathwtach Beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum) and Furniture Beetles (Anobium punctatum) are slightly different. Deathwatch emmerge between late March and early June, Furniture Beetle between April and August.
The holes are also slightly different: Deathwatch beetle emmerge holes are 5-6mm and are, in the vast majority, only found in oak (unless you live on the south coast or on the Channel Islands). Furniture Beetle will eat most species of timber found in houses.
The larvae burrow along the gain of the wood Brigetta, so whilst you only see one exit hole, the tunnels stretch a long way either side- a lot of people find this out when they sand their old floorboards and expose all the tunnels. It’s not attractive…
@Finnegan: if you fill the old holes with wax you can see new ones appearing each year, or you could carefully tape thin paper over the affected area and watch to see if anything tunnels through it leaving a hole.
Remember that wood doesn’t spontaineously errupt with Furniture Beetle holes- they can only survive in wood that it damp. If your house and furniture is kept warm and dry: no problem.
The woodworm season as it is often called can be longer than the text books identify due to milder winters. In recent years beetles often emerge earlier and later in the season due to the warmer climate.
@Matt: you’re right that the larvae needs moisture in the wood to survive.
However, it is a myth that your house will be Ok if it is centrally heated. The reason for this is that many houses with wooden ground floors have an earth oversite underneath it and moisture from the earth is absorbed into the floor timbers making it a good breeding ground for woodboring insects generally.
In the roof space there is often a damp atmosphere with moisture coming in from air vents or dampness in the chimney stack, or roof fabric in need of attention and the timbers retain some moisture which is good for the insects. As most of us have loft insulation this retains the heat in the house and sometimes leaves the roof space cold and damp. Unfortunately under floors and in the roof space are not places we go from choice with any regularity so woodworm happily eat away with out us being aware.
We have found a perfect cottage to buy. Had a survey done which highlighted “evidence of longstanding woodworm”. Called in a pest controller who found current evidence of infestation.We withdrew our offer.The vendors called in the UK’s market leader for pest control who have found no evidence of current infestation. What should we do, buy or walk away
Brian M
I am pleased you have found the perfect cottage, it is difficult to comment on the accuracy of the reports you have received unless we were one of the companies involved and if so send the details to our Head Office email
propertycare.hoffice@rentokil.com for my attention and I will investigate for you,however I will clarify a little about woodworm.
The holes that must be present in the timbers in the cottage (you do not say where) are the result of the adult beetle emerging from the timber and could be the result of an infestation many years ago, the timbers could have been treated and there is no longer an active infestation at this time.
It could be that either the first company were unable to identify if the infestation was current or old & inactive and therefore covered themselves by suggesting it had evidence of longstanding woodworm.
The second company seem confident that there is not a problem.
If there is a simple woodworm infestation it is easy to treat for a professional company, and the cost would not be too excessive to consider walking away from the purchase of the cottage. If any timbers have been badly damaged and are weakened either by current or old infestations they may need to be replaced.
It is common in the house purchase market that if there is any defects that require treatment the cost is usually negotiated in part or fully off the purchase price of the property.
If Rentokil Property Care had surveyed the property and found no evidence of Woodworm you could be offered an insurance policy that would cover the cost of woodworm treatment should any of the timbers have an active infestation in future which would give you peace of mind for the future.This Insurance is annually renewable.
If you require a Property Care Survey please either call our call centre on 0800 0121437 or complete the book a survey form on our website.
Hope the above helps.
Andy Peters
Managing Director
Rentokil Property Care