Woodworm: FAQ

All your woodworm questions answered here

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Q1: How to treat woodworm?

Q1: How to treat woodworm?

Most Commonly a woodworm treatment with an insecticide spray will be sufficient. Timber removal and replacement being required in only the most severe/long term infestations. In certain difficult to access timbers with infestations such as Death Watch Beetle, fumigation treatments over several years may be recommended.

Woodworm treament

Q2: How can I tell if I have a woodworm infestation?

Woodworm beetles create little exit holes (resembling the holes in a dart board) which can leave bore dust in and around the timber (known as frass). Try wiping this away and re-visit in 6 months to see if any dust has come back. You can also try covering up the holes with a sheet of paper or a coat of paint that will eventually if you have an active woodworm infestation.

How to spot Woodworm

Q3: What kills woodworm?

For minor to moderate infestations that are not severe they may only require treatment to the exposed and accessible surface of the timber, a woodworm insecticidal treatment spray would be sufficient. This will kill off any emerging beetles and prevent the woodworm lifecycle from start over again by preventing any eggs laid on the timber from hatching and the larvae entering the timber. However, more serious infestation may require a variety of treatment methods such as timber replacement

How to treat Woodworm

Q4: When do woodworm Emerge?

Typically starting between May & September which is the adult emergence season for Woodworm.

Woodworm lifecycle

Q5: How does woodworm treatment work?

Type of treatment program depends on the severity of the woodworm issue. However, a standard woodworm treatment typically involves a chemical insecticide spray that covers over all the accessible affected timbers. As the larvae turns into a beetle, it emerges from the timber. As it emerges, the chemical residue coat covering the timbers comes into contact with the beetle this may kill the emerging adult but more importantly prevents the new larvae hatching from eggs laid on the timber from achieving viability.. 

Woodworm treatment explained

Q6: What does woodworm damage look like?

Woodworm can weaken and damage the timber and flooring. Your woodwork will have small exit holes over it resembling the holes in a dart board with fine powdery dust around it.

Images of Woodworm damage

Q7: What do woodworm look like?

There are five common types of woodworm beetles: Common Furniture Beetle, Death Watch Beetle, Wood Boring Weevil, Powderpost beetle and the House Longhorn Beetle. You will only see a woodworm beetle on their exit from the timber and after the damage has been done.

Images of Woodworm

Q8: When do woodworm fly?

Typically in the emerging season between the breeding season within May to September, although in our experience, it can happen at any time throughout the year.

Woodworm lifecycle

Q9: When is woodworm active?

Typically woodworm are most active between May and September during the typical emergence season.

Woodworm lifecycle

Q10: Woodworm - how to tell if It is active or not

Without calling the experts there are a couple tricks you can use to check if you have an active woodworm problem. The small holes on the timber are the Woodworm Beetles exit holes. Try wiping away the dust, and cover the holes with either a coat of paint or a sheet of plain paper. Check the affected area the following year. If the small holes have re-appeared then you could very well have an active woodworm problem, if not then you should be ok.

Tell Tale signs of woodworm

Q11: Is woodworm a worm?

No, they are Wood boring beetles that can fly.

Images of woodworm beetles

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