Woodworm treatments, woodworm problems, woodworm infestation – Advice from Timberwise
June 10, 2009Watch out woodworm are about! Important woodworm information for home owners.
Now that the warmer months are upon us we are beginning to see more cases of woodworm infestation in property. To help home owners have a better understanding about
woodworm and the life cycle of the woodworm we have produced a short video that shows clearly the life cycle of the woodworm.
Here is the life cycle explained in a little more detail: For the purpose of this illustration we have made the assumption that the beetle that lands on the timber is a pregnant female.
- The female beetle starts the life cycle process by laying her eggs directly into the timber through cracks, crevices and existing flight holes. To protect the eggs they are not left on the surface of the timber.
- After a few weeks the eggs hatch downwards into the timber and produce larvae – this is the worm stage of the infestation. This worm, or larval stage, carries on for any where between 2 and 5 years. In that time the larvae eats its way up and down the timbers and causes the structural damage to the timber. It is at this stage in the life cycle that the frass, or dust, that is associated with woodworm is produced.
- Towards the end of its life cycle it forms a pupal chamber where it enlarges the tunnelling towards the surface of the timber and pupates from the larval stage into an adult beetle.
- The adult beetle then eats its way through the last thin veneer of timber producing the round exit holes that you normally see. From here on in the beetle causes very little further damage to the timber.
- It is the round exit holes that normally identify timber that has been subjected to beetle infestation. The females live for between 10 and 14 days where as their male counterparts only live between 3 and 4 days. Once the adult male beetles have emerged from the chamber there sole purpose is to mate with as many female partners in their short lifespan and the life cycle continues.
If you suspect you have a woodworm infestation don’t panic! Simply call our woodworm experts on 0800 99 11 00 or click to arrange a survey.
