As the seasons change and warmer weather approaches, so too does the increased risk of woodworm infestations. These tiny, destructive insects can wreak havoc on our homes, not just in wooden furniture, but in timber framing and even flooring if left un-checked. Forewarned is forearmed though, and understanding this pest can help you get ahead of woodworm season. 

Multiskill’s Contracts Director and CSRT Surveyor Phillip Slater says: “We always advocate for prevention over cure when it comes to property preservation, and while it’s not always possible to prevent woodworm, there are certainly ways to reduce the risks. This goes for both residential and commercial properties. There are ways to lower the chances of woodworm taking up residence in your home in the first place, but even if they do, being more aware can help to lessen the impact it has by dealing with before the infestation spreads.”

In this post, we’ll explain how woodworm can affect your home and provide you with some simple, practical tips to help you avoid an encounter with these pests.

Understanding woodworm
Rather than a worm, woodworm is actually the larvae of wood-boring beetles that burrow into timber, leaving behind a network of tunnels which can cause considerable damage over time. The most common culprits include the Death Watch, House Longhorn, Powderpost, and Common Furniture Beetles. Woodworm season typically peaks during the warmer months when these beetles are most active, and we advise keeping an eye out between April and September.

Most active in the UK is the Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium punctatum), whose larvae is responsible for about 80% of all woodworm damage here, attacking the sapwood in particular of both soft and hard woods. The adult Common Furniture Beetle is recognisable for its dull brown colour and fine lengthwise ridges. They range from 2.5mm to 5mm in length and are able to fly once they reach maturity. The holes they produce in infected wood are around 2mm in diameter, which is where the adult beetles exit the timber once they’re ready to reproduce.

The first stage in their life cycle sees the female beetle laying between 20 and 60 eggs in small groupings inside natural cracks in the timber, old exit holes or along a join where they are protected from surface predators. The eggs hatch after 3 to 5 weeks, each producing a 1mm long, creamy white, C-shaped larva. The newborn larvae then begin to burrow downwards into the timber, which is what we would consider the ‘woodworm’ stage of an infestation, and is when the main damage occurs. This continues for three to five years, with the larvae growing up to 7mm as they bore through the timber, eating the starchy part of the wood grain. Finally the larvae pupate and transform into adult beetles just below the surface of the timber, eating though the last thin veneer of timber to create the telltale flight holes from which they will emerge to begin the cycle again.

Our tips for getting ahead of woodworm season

• Know the signs of woodworm infestation
  The first thing to do is to learn how to identify the early signs of a woodworm infestation. The most easy to spot signs of woodworm are their small, round exit holes, which you will find in wooden surfaces, but these can be from previous infestations and may already have been treated and vacated. However, the presence of a fine powdery dust (known as frass) around the holes is a signal that the infestation is ongoing. You can tap on wood to see if any frass falls out of holes and cracks in the wood. Early detection is key to effective control, and you can read more about what to look for in our blog post here. 
  
• Regular inspections around your property
  Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s important to conduct thorough inspections of your home or premises throughout woodworm season (the warmer months of April to September in the UK). This should include all wooden furniture, structures such as roof and ceiling beams, and wooden floor boards. 
  
• Moisture control
  Woodworm thrives in moist conditions, so protecting your property against damp makes it less attractive to wood-boring beetles. Ensure you repair any leaks promptly, maintain guttering and other pipework, ventilate well, and use dehumidifiers if necessary.
  
• Seal and varnish
  Applying sealants and varnishes to wooden surfaces creates a protective barrier, making it much harder for wood-boring beetles to lay their eggs. Regularly check and reapply these protective coatings to ensure continued effectiveness, and consider adding them to untreated timbers.
  
• Check new furniture
  The Common Furniture Beetle is actually so named since it is often mistakenly brought into homes via infested furniture, which is why it’s very important to check any new furniture you bring into your home or premises. Musical instruments are another item which can be infested and carried from property to property, from where the beetles can emerge and go on to threaten the structural integrity of buildings by attacking wooden flooring and structural timbers.
  
• Timely repairs
  If an infestation does occur, it is imperative that you address any damaged or weakened wood immediately. Replace or repair affected areas of timber to prevent the infestation from spreading. Just as prevention is more cost-effective than dealing with extensive damage later on, so is dealing with a small repair before a larger one is needed.
  
• Professional pest control
  If you suspect a woodworm infestation or want to ensure your home is thoroughly inspected, the best course of action is to consult with a professional. They have the expertise and tools to accurately identify the cause of the issue, treat it with the correct products in the most effective way, and prevent future woodworm problems. While there are some treatments you can apply yourself to localised areas, for more complex or extensive infestations, professional treatment will be required.
  

Don’t let woodworm season catch you off guard and cause damage to your precious furniture, your home, or commercial property. By incorporating these proactive but simple measures into your routine, you can safeguard your home and belongings from the destructive effects of wood-boring beetles. Remember, early detection and consistent prevention efforts are the keys to maintaining a woodworm-free property, but if in doubt, our surveyors will be happy to help. They use decades of experience to decide on the best treatment plan, based on the type of woodworm (or other wood-boring insect), the size of the timber and the life cycle and activity of the infestation. We are a longstanding, family-run company, who you can trust to assess the problem and give our honest verdict.