The generic term 'woodworm' is often applied to a group of wood boring insects, and the precise method of treatment will depend on which species is attacking the timber. The woodworm holes are caused by the larvae of beetles that feed on the timber, and the larger holes on the surface of the wood are formed when the adult beetle emerges to mate.
The most common species of woodworm in the UK is the Common Furniture Beetle. This species can be identified by the small, round holes that are left on the surface of the timber (approx. 1.5 - 2mm diameter) and the "gritty" bore-dust that it leaves behind.
Amongst the many other species of insects which attack structural timber, is the Wood Boring Weevil. This insect shares many similarities with the Common Furniture Beetle, but importantly it is found only in decaying timber. Dampness is the source of the problem and the damp problem must be eradicated to tackle the possibilities of re-infestation. Decaying timber is usually a sign of wet rot and a surveyor should make a thorough investigation before deciding on treatment.
Where timber treatment is required, a water-based product is often recommended as opposed to a conventional solvent based insecticide. This blocks the natural life cycle of all woodborers in the larval stage. Timber treated with this product will be ingested or absorbed by the larva, and as soon as the larva attempts to moult to its next stage of development it is unable to produce a new skin and dies.
The main problems encountered when treating woodworm are identifying the species involved, deciding whether the infestation is still active, and deciding which timbers have been structurally weakened and need replacing. All of these factors will influence the type of treatment carried out. For this reason, it is essential that a survey is carried out by an experienced timber treatment company whenever an active woodworm infestation is suspected.
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