Woodworm Control - How to Get Rid of Woodworm

The woodworm is not a worm. It is actually a beetle that bores into and eats wood whilst in the larval stage. There are several species of woodworm, and they all have the ability to do serious damage to your home. Any indication of woodworm in the home should prompt immediate woodworm control action. You can call professional exterminators but this can be costly, so there are some DIY treatments available from Pest Control Supplies.

Spotting an Infestation

Because woodworm can burrow into the wood and hide, finding an infestation will usually require some detective work. Pay attention to the exposed wood in your home. Look specifically for small holes in the wood. If you find new holes, you probably have woodworm. To determine if the invaders have recently arrived, look at the floor underneath the wood in question for piles of bore dust, or frass. If you see these piles, or if the wood feels brittle, then you have an active and serious infestation. Because the majority of the damage will be on the inside of the wood, you may need advice to determine how severe the problem is.

Beetle Identification

Watch for adult beetles in the home. The adult common furniture beetle is between three and five millimetres long. The thorax has a distinctive shape, making it appear that the beetle has a monk’s hood over the head. It is dark brown that can be slightly reddish and yellow colouring on the head.

The death-watch beetle has the ability to do serious damage to your home. Invading homes when the weather starts to warm up in the spring, these beetles are nearly seven millimetres in length. They can be heard making a tapping or ticking sound in the rafters of very quiet houses as they try to attract mates.

Favouring softwoods, the house longhorn beetle is between ten and twenty millimetres in length. Grey patches of hair on the wing make this brown or black beetle distinctive. Infestations of this particularly destructive insect should be reported to the Building Research Establishment’s Timber and Protection Division.

Wood boring weevils range in length from three to five millimetres. They are typically black or reddish brown in colour and have a long snout that is very distinctive.

Special Equipment Determines the Severity of the Infestation

The professionals have a special piece of equipment to determine how extensive the woodworm invasion is. One of their tools is known as a borescope, and it can be used to look inside the wood at the damage. Determining the extent of damage is important for determining the best treatment method. It's also necessary for determining if there is structural damage.

Treatment Depends on the Severity of the Infestation

The best course of action will depend largely on how bad the problem is. Minor infestations that are caught early can be treated by simply spraying the wood with an insecticide, for example Woodworm Destroyer Trigger Spray. The chemical will seep through the wood, eventually reaching and killing the woodworm.

Barrettine's Clear Low-Odour Woodworm Killer can be applied directly to timber both inside and outside your property. It is highly effective at treating sheds and fences, once infested.

Severe infestations with extensive damage will require fumigation of the area. The gas will penetrate the wood more quickly, catching and killing the invading woodworm. Wood that has lost its structural integrity should be removed and replaced as soon as possible.

Treating Furniture versus Homes

There are effective treatments that can be used to eliminate woodworm in furniture. Whilst woodworm in furniture can be relatively easy to treat, woodworm in homes can cause structural damage which can be extensive and extremely dangerous so professional advice may be recommended to determine the nature of the problem.

Preventing Woodworm Infestations

Because they are so small, it can be difficult to keep woodworm out of the home. However, knowing what they like can help you make your home less appealing. They prefer wood that is damp or moist. Keeping the wood in your home dry is a great way to prevent an infestation. Check for leaking pipes that can cause the wood to stay moist. Crawlspaces and attics should be checked occasionally to ensure that they are still dry.

Flytraps, for example Window Floral Fly Stickers, are effective for catching and containing adult beetles. Catching them before they can mate and lay eggs in the wood will also help you protect your home.

Powerful Treatments for Infestations

The chemicals available to the professionals are extremely powerful and effective. Applied properly by experienced technicians, the treatment can focus directly on the affected areas without causing problems to people, pets or the environment. A water-based treatment, it is usually sprayed directly on the contaminated areas. Professional exterminators will have access to stronger, more effective chemical treatments. Pest Control Supplies does sell one such product, Perbio Professional Woodworm Killer Insecticide, and with correct application can have the effectiveness of professionals.

If you suspect an infestation of dangerous woodworm, call the professionals immediately. Woodworm infestations that are untreated can cause serious damage to your home, leaving you with extensive repair bills. The professionals have the tools necessary to determine how serious the problem is, and they have the chemicals necessary to get rid of the beetles and protect your home.

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