Warmer temperatures are certainly a welcome sign of spring for most of us, and if you’ve started to notice bumble bees and butterflies making an appearance, you might bear in mind they’re not the only insects emerging after winter. Woodworm too are beginning to emerge from timber in order to start mating and laying their eggs, and will usually be around from April to September. It’s important to know what to look out for, since woodworm have the potential to cause significant damage to your home, which is why we’ve put this blog post together for you.

What is woodworm?
Despite its name, woodworm is actually a wood-boring beetle, in its larvae stage. Anobium punctatum, also known as the common furniture beetle, is the most prevalent wood boring insect in the UK and infests internal structural timbers.The beetles lay their eggs in gaps within timber, then the resulting larvae go on to eat their way through the wood for anything up to five years. This creates a series of tunnels, the openings of which are the telltale burrow holes we see in infested (or formerly infested) timber. It is these tunnels which can undermine the structural integrity of the timber, and as a result, the building itself. 

What are the signs of woodworm?
Probably the most widely known and recognisable sign of woodworm are the burrow holes where the beetles emerge from the timber in order to mate, after they have tunnelled through as larvae. These are not always a sign of active woodworm though, as there may be no more beetles or larvae remaining inside the timber. In order to confirm a current infestation, look for beetles (alive or dead) in close proximity to the timber, which are recognisable as small and deep brown in colour. Since the beetles often head for light as they emerge from the timber, it’s common to find them on window sills, especially where they are painted white and they’re easier to spot.

Another sign is a fine, powdery dust known as ‘frass’, which is actually the faeces left behind by larvae beetles. This is often found around burrow holes in timber, or may fall out when the timber is given a tap. This is an indication of current infestation, and that it is advisable to have the timber inspected by a qualified surveyor. If left, an infestation may well lead to intensive burrowing, and you may see a crumbly appearance to the edges of the timber due to multiple burrow holes in close proximity. This may signify structural damage, and certainly calls for attention.

What are the risk factors for woodworm?
While woodworm can affect dry or damp timber, and both hardwood or softwood, it certainly has a preference for damper, untreated wood. Drier woods are harder for the larvae to burrow through, so softwoods such as pine and cedar are more likely to become infested.However, should hardwoods such as oak or ash become damp, they too could prove tempting to woodworm. Furthermore, if the timber is untreated by sealant, lacquer or varnish, it will be more likely to come under attack. 

How is woodworm treated?
As with most things, prevention is better than cure, and controlling the humidity of your home will help. By keeping your property, and thus the timber within it well ventilated, you will help to make the timber less hospitable to woodworm infestation. If you do suspect you have an isolated infestation, for example in a piece of furniture, then removing it from the home is the first course of action in order to minimise any further infestation.

While prevention is preferable, if you suspect a current infestation you should have the issue inspected by a qualified surveyor. This is because the treatment must be very thorough and can involve spraying chemicals. There are water based treatments which are odourless and allow you tore-enter the treated area a short time after the treatment is completed, however these are not always suitable for every site. Where more difficult to access infestations must be treated, such as under flooring, fogging systems must be used.

In the case of a large infestation of woodworm, structural damage can occur and it is especially important to obtain expert advice. However, damaged timber does not necessarily need to be removed in all cases, and there are treatments which can repair them.


If you notice signs of woodworm, it’s not always cause to panic, but it is important to assess any damage and check if you have an ongoing infestation. If you do suspect you have a woodworm infestation in your home, it is strongly advisable to have the timber inspected by a qualified surveyor. At Multiskill, our trustworthy team of experienced surveyors will base their treatment plan on the type of woodworm (or other wood boring insect), the size of the timber and the life cycle and activity of the infestation. Should you need timber replacements, we pre-treat these with preservative prior to installation, and our work is guaranteed for 20 years. Get in touch to arrange a survey with one of our team.