Alliance understand the importance of dealing with Woodworm and have helped many clients with this problem and cover the following areas:-
- Perth & Kinross, Dundee & Angus, Fife, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling
Woodworm is the damage caused by the larvae of various types of beetles. Adult beetles enter a property through doors, windows, vents or eaves, looking for a place to lay their eggs. As the larvae grow, they feed on wood - doors, window frames, beams, skirting boards, or anything else that suits them – often for several years. When grown they emerge as adults from the ‘flight holes’ seen on the timber. The adults can then return to the same wood to lay their own eggs, starting the cycle all over again.
Possible signs of a woodworm infestation can include:
- Small round holes on the surface of the wood or tunnels within it
- Trails of frass (the wood powder left behind by the beetles)
- Adult beetles emerging from ‘flight holes’ or dead beetles in the area
- Weakened wood
Left untreated, woodworm can cause serious structural damage. If you suspect woodworm Alliance will identify the type of beetle involved, the extent of the damage and the appropriate treatment required.
Which types of beetle cause woodworm and how can it be treated?
Common Furniture Beetle or 'Woodworm' (Anobium punctatum)
The Common Furniture Beetle, also known as the Woodworm, attacks softwood construction timbers as well as European hardwoods. It is very rarely found in tropical hardwoods. It is frequently found in older furniture, hence the name ‘Common Furniture Beetle’.
The adult beetle will usually emerge from the flight holes visible on the surface of the timber between late March and early August. The characteristic circular flight holes are 1–2mm in diameter. After mating, females will lay their eggs on the surface, crevasses or old flight holes of surrounding timber. After the eggs hatch a new life cycle will begin.
Timber Preservation Treatment
An infestation by this beetle will usually occur in dry and well-ventilated areas, suspended ground floors, roofs, panelling, and so on. Normally the severity of the attack in these areas will depend on any associated dampness. Structural weakness can occur depending on the severity of the infestation. Our surveyor will determine what treatments and replacements are deemed necessary. This insect is found throughout Great Britain and is often misidentified with other wood-boring insects.
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