Woodworm can be identified when we detect holes in wooden furniture and sawdust in the dregs, so we can not detect the problem until it becomes visible.

What is woodworm?

They are insects of the beetle family (Order Coleoptera), called wood eaters or xylophages, from the Latin xilo (wood) and fago (to eat).

Its development presents 4 stages of metamorphosis:
• Egg (larvae hatch) on the surface of the virgin wood, usually cracks or unvarnished areas.
• Larva (they penetrate deeply into the wood when they feed on it, creating tunnels that affect the strength of the wood).
• Pupa (when it becomes an adult it looks for a way out and makes the typical holes and removes the sawdust).
• Adult (lays its eggs in the cracks in the wood).

When the woodworm turns into an adult beetle, it lays its eggs in the crevices of wooden objects, where they will feed for the rest of their lives and continue to reproduce, creating woodworm infestations for years without anyone noticing.

TYPES OF WOODWORM IN YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS

There are three types of woodworm in Spain: Anobids, Lyctides and Cerambycids. It is essential to know each type of woodworm in order to determine the most appropriate treatment:

Anobids or woodworm (Anobium Punctatum):
• Length 2.5-5 mm.
• Reddish brown colours.
• The arrangement of the head faces the lower part, covered by the pronotum
• The exit of the taps generates round holes with a diameter of 1-2 cm.
• The eggs hatch in the wood in 4-5 weeks.
• The entire cycle can last 2-3 years. The adults hatch between April and August.
• It attacks all types of wood but prefers conifers and hardwoods.

Cerambycids or Large Woodworm (Capricorn or Hylotrupes Bajulus):
• Length 10-20 mm.
• Brown or black colour.
• Long antennae.
• The output holes are oval, 3-7 mm, and the sawdust they generate is thick.
• The eggs hatch in around 14 days.
• The life cycle can last from 2-12 years.
• Adults appear between July and September..
• The damage caused by this species attacks wood for carpentry and flooring, preferring coniferous wood.
• Its damage is often irreversible.

Lyctides or Wood Moth or Furniture Borer- (Lyctus Brunneus and Lyctus Lineaeris):
• Bleached and arched larvae.
• Adult length 2-6 mm, narrow and elongated.
• Brown colour.
• Circular exit holes of 1-2 mm in diameter.
• Very fine sawdust.
• Life cycle can last 1 year.
• The appearance of the adults occurs in March-April and October-November.
• They attack soft wood with a high degree of humidity (10% – 30%).
• It produces damage to parquets and plywood.

HOW DO YOU DETECT THE PRESENCE OF WOODWORM?

All species of woodworm leave indications of their presence so we can detect them by the following evidence:

• Outlet holes, depending on the species, will be round or oval.
• Tunnels or galleries, which are sometimes visible if they are very superficial.
• Small piles of sawdust.
• Old appearance of the affected wood
• Cracks and damage to the corners or edges of beams, furniture or floorboards.
• Living specimens of small dark brown beetles perched on the walls or dead.
• Noises in the wood.
• You can see the larvae if the tunnel they have created is very superficial in the wood.

TREATMENT AGAINST WOODWORM

Our technical wood experts will carry out a thorough inspection to determine the type of woodworm that has attacked the wood, whether it is still active and the severity of the problem. After detecting these factors, they will evaluate in detail which is the best treatment that should be carried out.

We have very effective techniques and procedures to carry out treatments against pests worm in any type of furniture, sculpture or wooden structure.

Depending on the type of woodworm, the severity of the problem and the type of wood, injection treatment, spray treatment or a combination of both can be carried out.

CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT WOODWORM

Woodworm does not like hard woods very much, neither young nor too old. Therefore, many antique furniture may show signs of having suffered from woodworm but are not attacked again due to their age.

The woods most resistant to its effects are acacia, juniper or mahogany, while beech, maple and chestnut are more vulnerable to attack.
The inside of the woodworm’s holes should be observed. The most recent galleries are clean and polished, indicating that there may be more, while the inside of the old ones is dark and dirty with dust. If both types of holes appear in a piece of furniture it means that there is still woodworm inside.

If only old holes are observed, the woodworm will have left the wood and it will not be necessary to resort to extensive defence.

WOODWORM OR TERMITES?

The larva of the woodworm is only found inside the wood in the form of a worm. When the woodworm leaves the wood (adult stage), it is shaped like a small beetle.

Woodworm, although we can find many in the same piece of furniture, is not a social insect, unlike termites.

Do I have termites or woodworm? The most advisable thing to do is to get in the hands of a specialist like Gimasur, but in spite of everything, a series of indications are reviewed below, which can be very useful in identifying the pest.

• The sound produced by termites is not audible without the use of technology, however the sound of woodworm, if large, can be heard easily.
• Woodworms usually report their damage with the exit holes of adults, and subterranean termites do not make exit holes.
• There is one type of termite, the drywood termite (Kalotermes flavicollis) which makes small holes through which it expels “faecal balls”. So as not to confuse the termite holes in dry wood with woodworm holes, one must pay close attention to the texture of the excrements. The tiny “faecal balls” can vary in colour, but their shape is very characteristic (similar to a tiny coffee granite). On the other hand, woodworms usually leave a very fine sawdust.
• Although termites look like whitish ants, they have six legs, unlike the larva of the woodworm which is only found inside the wood and is shaped like a “worm”.
• When the adult woodworm leaves the wood, it is shaped like a beetle, but the termites usually “leave” the wood by swarming, that is to say, they all leave suddenly and look more like a “winged ant” or “alúa”.