How To Detect If Your Wood Has Woodworm
Woodworm is one of the main enemies of wood. In addition, since the holes and tunnels created by the larvae are not noticeable until there is significant damage, it is necessary to be vigilant to prevent and detect it as soon as possible. In this article, we tell you what woodworm is and how to detect it in time.
Woodworm
Woodworm is the name given to the larvae of several species of coleopterans, especially known for gnawing, piercing and deteriorating wood. Indeed, these larvae are xylophagous, that is, they feed on wood.
On the other hand, in addition to woodworm, it is also known by the name of “quera”, since the sawdust or dust that they produce when drilling is called this way.
In any case, when feeding, they gnaw and create tunnels and galleries inside the wood, seriously damaging its structure. For this reason, it is essential to be vigilant and try to prevent its appearance.
What wood does woodworm prefer?
Woodworm is an insect linked to human beings, that is, it usually appears where there are wooden structures built by man, so that its presence in nature is scarce.
Indeed, woodworm prefers slightly humid wood , in places far from excessive heat and cold and also from water. For this reason, it is really rare to find it in living trees or forests.
Thus, a woodworm infestation is more likely:
- In wood of old furniture or structures.
- Where there is a temperature of approximately 20 – 24 ºC.
- On the other hand, the most susceptible and vulnerable woods are beech, maple and chestnut.
How to detect woodworm?
Woodworm pests are not easily detectable in the early stages, since the holes they create barely reach three millimeters. However, little by little the size of the holes will grow, reaching 10 millimeters.
In addition, the characteristic noise of insects when chewing is difficult to hear, almost imperceptible. Therefore, the pest is usually detectable only when sawdust is observed around the furniture and the characteristic holes created by insects are visible. Unfortunately, when we can finally recognize it, the woodworm is quite widespread.
The queras colonize the wood and deteriorate it when they are still in the larval stage. They feed on wood for years and then undergo a metamorphosis process to become coleopterans capable of flight. When they go outside, they live for only a few days: they lay their eggs in other woods and then die.
How do you know if the plague still exists?
As we explained previously, to detect a woodworm plague, we must take into account the existence of:
- Sawdust or wood dust around the furniture or structure
- Small holes.
However, the existence of these signs does not mean that the woodworm is still inside. Indeed, it may no longer be present and it is an old infestation. Since larvae can live in wood and feed on it for years, when we look at sawdust and holes, we must take into account:
- The color of the sawdust. If it is white, the infestation is probably recent and there may still be larvae inside. On the contrary, if it is brown, perhaps it is a pest that has already disappeared.
- The size of the holes. Let us remember that the larva undergoes a process of metamorphosis, turning into a beetle that, later, will go outside. Therefore, if the holes are large, this may indicate that it has already exited and that the pest is no longer in the wood.
- Sound of larvae gnawing. Obviously, if we are able to hear the characteristic sound of these insects chewing the sapwood of the wood, we are facing an indication that it is still inside the wood.
How to combat it?
There are several methods to eliminate woodworm:
- Freezing. Since these larvae cannot withstand the cold, infested objects can be stored for a time in cold rooms in order to eradicate them. However, it is a method that must be applied by professionals, since cooling could affect the wood.
- Gas. Some restorers use airtight chambers and apply gas.
- In addition, we can find other professional eradication methods such as the application of heat or anoxia (oxygen deprivation).
- Chemical treatments. It involves the application of gels and injections of specific chemicals that eliminate the plague in a few days.
On the other hand, there are also home remedies against woodworm that could be effective:
- In furniture or not very large objects, we can apply the heat of a hand dryer in order to avoid humidity. Then, we can apply a specific insecticide against woodworm and wrap it in plastic until the pest disappears.
- Apply cold. They don’t like heat, but neither do they like cold. For this reason, a good idea would be to leave the furniture outside the house, if the temperatures are low. In this way, it may disappear.
How to prevent it?
To prevent the appearance of woodworm, we can take into account the following tips:
- Aerate. It is something essential. The accumulation of moisture in the wood makes it softer and, therefore, more palatable to woodworm.
- Varnishing. Although it is not a remedy to ensure that woodworm will not penetrate, a good coat of varnish is a safety barrier against this pest. In fact, there are specific varnishes on the market to prevent the entry of woodworm.
- Be attentive. Nothing better than paying attention to our furniture and wooden structures to be able to detect the presence of those you want as soon as possible.
In any case, we must always be vigilant. As explained above, when we are able to detect the traces of the woodworm, perhaps it is too late and the plague has caused serious damage to the structure. For that reason, prevention is better than cure and, if it is the case, enlist the help of professionals.
