How to Stop the Woodworm Infestation in Your Furniture
Woodworms. They’re small wood-eating insects. Their larvae can chew through furniture pretty fast. Now this is where that can be a major problem. For your property and wooden furniture in particular.
Moreover, woodworms are not picky. They’ll also settle for your exterior wooden improvements, too. Especially if they are not protected with some woodworm-proof covering. That makes the woodworm menace a formidable foe to deal with.
However, if you know how to act, then not all is lost in the battle against them. Today, we’ll provide you with an in-depth understanding of how to protect what’s your against these wood-boring insects.
Let’s explore all about woodworms and how to stop them in detail below!
What Are Woodworms?
A valid question. And an important one, too, as you can’t fight an enemy you know nothing about. So you might want to look them up online and learn more about them.
However, the first thing you’re probably going to learn is likely gonna surprise you. Woodworms are not worms at all. They’re beetle larvae. They have a milky white colour and, unfortunately for you, a healthy appetite.
Furthermore, there are many types of wood-boring beetles out there. Why is that important, though? Well, it is because different species have different tastes.
Some like to chew on softwoods. In particular pine and cedar, and even spruce. Other larvae prefer hardwood, like mahogany, ash, or oak. Whichever the species, however, one thing is certain. All of them prefer damp wood because it’s the easiest to chew through.
The common furniture beetle is the most widely spread species. They like both soft and hardwoods. You can find them in all kinds of areas, but most often in damp floorboards or timbers. The ideal dampness is 28% or higher, but no more than 12%, as it becomes really hard for them to feed under such conditions.
Unprotect wood is another choice for woodworms. That’s any type without protecting covering or lacquer. What that does is make it a pretty easy target for all kinds of woodworms to lay eggs. The hatched larvae will bore into it, leaving you to deal with the subsequent mess.
The lowest chance of woodworm infestation comes if your furniture is made from high-quality heartwood.
Is Woodworm Infestation A Serious Problem?
This entirely depends on your unique situation. First, you have to assess the woodworm species infesting your property. Then comes the extent of the damage and the size of the infestation. Moreover, if left untreated for a long time, woodworms can cause plenty of structural damage.
You probably know what that entails. Weakened elements have a high risk of collapsing. This will result in costly replacements or repairs, and no one wants that. So your best bet is to deal with the wood-boring menace right away.
How To Eliminate a Woodworm Infestation?
Knowing the correct species of woodworm is the first step. That’s why it’s best to contact a reliable pest control company. The specialist will inspect your property and determine the correct type of woodworm.
After that, applying the proper pest control treatment will do its job as intended.
Surface Treatment
This is a DIY option. Especially if the infestation only affects a small area of your home. You can do so by using permethrin-based woodworm treatment. Apply it with a brush on all surfaces where there are larvae. Moreover, treat close-by timbers as well to prevent future woodworm outbreaks.
Injection Treatment
If the species is the Death Watch beetle then the infestation occurs deep into the timber. This means you’ll have to apply the above method, as well as injection treatment. Inject the woodworm treatment directly into the exit holes. Alternatively, you may drill into the danger zone and apply woodworm gel treatment or a paste.
Lastly, Death Watch beetle infestation is more dangerous than other types. As they cause much greater damage, it might be wise to call professional pest control instead. You’ll save time and protect your precious furniture and timber from any risks.
What Are Effective Prevention Strategies Against Woodworms?
Firstly, know it’s difficult to keep the woodworm menace completely at bay. With that being said, you can do certain things to minimise the likelihood of infestation.
The foremost thing is to keep wood dry. The wetter it becomes, the more attractive it will be for woodworms.
To prevent that, you have two options. The first one is to keep your home well heated, while the latter is good ventilation. High temperatures will decrease moisture, and ventilated air will prevent wood saturation and wetness from building up indoors.
The next thing is to buy or replace your furniture with high-quality hardwood. This type of wood has high density and thus the woodworms’ larvae won’t be able to get nutrients and feed.
Alternatively, you might want to seal your wooden furniture with varnish. This will make them resistant to the little bugs, as the compound is also toxic to them. Of course, you will have to re-apply the varnish when it wears out over time, as to ensure continued protection.
One more strategy is to use flytraps. They will catch the adult beetles and will prevent them from procreating. That will ensure your furniture won’t be infested with the woodworms’ eggs.
Lastly, if you’re purchasing antique or old furniture, first inspect them for woodworm signs. That will protect your home from the wood-boring menace, instead of neglecting that step and keeping your fingers crossed everything will be alright.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! While woodworms are plenty of high risk for your property, they’re not that hard to deal with if you come prepared.
Employ the strategies above, and you won’t likely have to deal with the wood-boring menace. There are no guarantees in life, but chances are you will have much less trouble with them if you’re prepared than if you don’t act and build up your defences.
Ultimately, we wish you plenty of luck in avoiding a woodworm infestation. Stay vigilant and protect what’s yours.
