Woodworm

Woodworm treatment

What is Woodworm?

There are various wood boring insects throughout the UK, however the most common is common furniture beetle (Anobium puncatatum) hence the name. The life cycle of the woodworm starts with the female adult beetle laying approximately 80 eggs within the cracks, crevices and existing flight holes of previously emerged beetles. After only a few weeks the eggs hatch as small grubs (larvae) which are only around 2mm in size. The grubs will eat their way through the timber creating numerous tunnels which will weaken the structure over time, the bore dust (frass) is the waste product left behind during the feeding process.

 

The life cycle of the grubs is approx. 3-5 years, after this period the grubs will go through metamorphosis state forming into the adult beetles, these adult beetles cut through the final few milometers of wood, leaving behind visible frass within the flight holes. The flight holes area approx. 1.5mm to 2.0mm in diameter with the beetles approx. 2.5mm to 4.0mm in length.

 

The emergence/flight season is usually between the months of March to September. The adult beetles will breed with a mate then the process will start all over again. The adult beetles actually only have a life expectancy of 1-3 weeks.