Key Takeaways
- The common furniture beetle is the primary cause of woodworm damage in British buildings.
- Controlling woodworm infestation involves maintaining timber moisture below 11% and conducting inspections.
- Treatment typically requires applying insecticide to exposed timber surfaces.
- Other common wood-borers include the wood weevil, Lyctus powderpost beetle, and bark borer beetle.
- Understanding the type of woodworm is crucial for effective management and treatment.
A woodworm called the common furniture beetle is responsible for most of the damage to softwood and hardwood within buildings in Britain. The level of infestation depends on the type of timber and its moisture content.
Keeping the moisture content of timbers below 11% moisture content (full central heating) may control a woodworm infestation in mid-floor timbers of a well-maintained building. An inspection will help in understanding the insect and the problem.
Treatment: This is normally the covering of the exposed timber surfaces with insecticide fluid that will then bring an infestation under control.
1. Wood weevil (damp timber only)
2. Lyctus powederpost beetle
3. Ptilinus beetle
4. Bark borer beetle
5. Deathwatch beetle
6. House Longhorn (south-east England) for further information and species