Woodworm in Dunbartonshire

Woodworms are not very common in the UK, but an infestation can be very destructive. Woodworm is the term for the larvae stage of a number of different species of beetle, the most typical of which is the Common Furniture Beetle. These pest insects lay their eggs inside of damp or rotten wood. When these eggs hatch, small larvae start to consume the wood around them, which is what creates the holes in wood. The exit holes are formed as the larvae transforms into an adult beetle which then leaves the wood. The beetles are capable of flying and will usually leave the area to breed. However, they can return to lay eggs. In extreme cases, these insects can damage structural components of a building which can have serious effects.

Signs of a woodworm infestation include cracking noises coming from wood in the house or furniture, as well as the visual indicators which are the exit holes found in wood and wood dust normally observed underneath infested wood. Woodworm infestations should be treated by professional pest control specialists. It might also be necessary to have a structural survey completed as woodworms are generally an indicator of damp. Even if the woodworms have not caused severe damage themselves, the damp or rotten wood that they live in could cause a structural problem in the building.

Woodworm treatment is fairly straightforward once the damaged area has been correctly located. The wood can be coated with a liquid or lacquer which will stop any larvae inside from exiting and suffocate them, or for more extensive infestations fumigation is often used to ensure that the pests are effectively controlled.