Shashel®
Woodworm beetles
The woodworm beetle is an invasive eater of wooden houses, rafters, beams, and furniture. It can even destroy wood in a heated house during winter. So don't hesitate to find out the infestation signs and a highly effective sterilisation method. Let's deliver a microwave strike on the pest.
Species of woodworms and lifestyle
While inside the log, the woodworm evolves and gnaws on the starch-containing part of the log. It is detected when mature imago beetles appear, leaving holes and wood powder piles. The woodworm hole diameters vary from 0.7 to 3.2 millimetres, depending on the species. Once the females lay the eggs, they re-infest the wood, proceeding with this cycle for several generations until they consume all the wood. However, trees can be naturally immune, which manifests in very low starch content.
Species
of woodworms (with descriptions)
of woodworms (with descriptions)
Cerambycidae
Cerambycidae, also known as the Longhorn beetle, represents a very big family of beetles featuring extremely long whiskers that are longer than a maturing insect's body. There is also one curious fact: the scientific name is based on Greek mythology. After a dispute with the nymphs, the shepherd Kerambos was turned into a big bug with big horns and whiskers.
These insects live and reproduce in wood, and their larvae feed on wood fibers. Some species of longhorn beetles are particularly harmful to wooden buildings, furniture, and other wooden structures.
Harm to Wooden Houses
The primary wood-damaging longhorn beetle is the house longhorn beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus). Here's how it harms wooden homes:
Wood destruction:
These insects live and reproduce in wood, and their larvae feed on wood fibers. Some species of longhorn beetles are particularly harmful to wooden buildings, furniture, and other wooden structures.
Harm to Wooden Houses
The primary wood-damaging longhorn beetle is the house longhorn beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus). Here's how it harms wooden homes:
Wood destruction:
- The beetle larvae burrow into wood, creating long tunnels. These damages weaken the wood, which can lead to the structural weakening or even collapse of key parts of the house, such as beams, walls, or floors.
- The larvae often work inside the wood, so external signs of damage may not be visible until the structure is significantly weakened. This increases the risk of sudden breakages.
- Damaged wooden structures lose their strength, which can result in deformations, cracks, or even the collapse of parts of the building.
- Beetle-damaged wood not only affects the appearance of the building but also reduces its market value. Repairing or replacing damaged elements can be costly and labor-intensive.
Longhorn beetle
Xestobium rufovillosum
Xestobium rufovillosum - Deathwatch beetle. The adult insect is 7 millimetres long, and the larvae are up to 11 millimetres. They make poking sounds that come from rafters and beams in calm weather. These woodboring beetles are usually associated with a clock that's counting down to death. Indeed, the sound is very disturbing. They digest cellulose with their enzymes, assuming that preliminary fungal decomposition has already occurred.
Xestobium rufovillosum, commonly known as the deathwatch beetle, is a wood-boring beetle from the family Anobiidae. It is notorious for infesting and damaging old hardwood, particularly in buildings and furniture. The larvae of this beetle feed on decaying or seasoned wood, especially oak, but they can also target other types such as ash, beech, and conifers.
One of the beetle's distinctive behaviors is its tapping or "ticking" sound made by adult beetles to attract mates. This sound, often heard in old wooden structures, gives the beetle its name "deathwatch," as it was historically associated with quiet, somber moments, like death vigils.
The damage caused by Xestobium rufovillosum can be extensive because the larvae bore into the wood, weakening it over several years, sometimes without visible signs until the structure's integrity is compromised.
Xestobium rufovillosum, commonly known as the deathwatch beetle, is a wood-boring beetle from the family Anobiidae. It is notorious for infesting and damaging old hardwood, particularly in buildings and furniture. The larvae of this beetle feed on decaying or seasoned wood, especially oak, but they can also target other types such as ash, beech, and conifers.
One of the beetle's distinctive behaviors is its tapping or "ticking" sound made by adult beetles to attract mates. This sound, often heard in old wooden structures, gives the beetle its name "deathwatch," as it was historically associated with quiet, somber moments, like death vigils.
The damage caused by Xestobium rufovillosum can be extensive because the larvae bore into the wood, weakening it over several years, sometimes without visible signs until the structure's integrity is compromised.
The furniture beetle is also a wood pest from the Anobiidae family
The main differences between the furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) and the deathwatch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum):
Type of wood they infest:
Type of wood they infest:
- Furniture beetle: Primarily infests softwood species, such as pine, spruce, and fir. It is most commonly found in furniture, parquet, and other wooden structures.
- Deathwatch beetle: Mainly infests hardwood species, especially oak, although it can also attack other old wooden structures, such as beams in buildings.
- Furniture beetle: Smaller in size, usually about 4-7 mm.
- Deathwatch beetle: Larger, typically 5-9 mm in length.
- Furniture beetle: Does not produce noticeable sounds.
- Deathwatch beetle: Known for its characteristic ticking or tapping sound, made by adults banging their heads against the wood to attract mates during reproduction.
- Furniture beetle: The life cycle is generally shorter (from 1 to 4 years), depending on the wood's moisture content and other conditions.
- Deathwatch beetle: Larvae can live in the wood for up to 10 years before becoming adult insects.
- Furniture beetle: Causes noticeable structural damage to furniture and decorative elements.
- Deathwatch beetle: Can lead to more serious damage to architectural structures due to its preference for hardwood, which is crucial for the stability of buildings.
- Furniture beetle: The exit holes are slightly smaller, about 1-2 mm in diameter.
- Deathwatch beetle: The holes are larger, around 3 mm in diameter.
Common Furniture beetle
Recognising Wood Pests: A Comprehensive Guide to Identification and Control
Signs of a wood pest infestation
- Wood flour or wood chips: Residue produced by wood pests when they eat wood.
- Weakening of the wood: Signs of structural damage and decay of the wood.
- Holes created by adult insects leave the wood.
- Insect presence: Visible presence of insects or their larvae in the wood.
What's important to know!!!
Imago insects don't eat at all. They only reproduce.
The female lays eggs in log cracks or exit holes. They hatch after three weeks, and each egg releases a 1-millimetre creamy white C-shaped larva. They gnaw on the xylem for three to four years, growing to 0.7 cm. As they reach maturity, they move closer to the surface and turn into a pupa (up to 8 weeks). When they leave the dwelling, they form a one to 1.5 millimetre hole and spill wood dust, the first visible signs of infestation. They feed on the sapwood, and it is easy to see in structures where one part of the timber may be intensely attacked while a neighbouring part is left almost intact. It also depends on whether the wood is made of core or shell. Building standards say that wood with more than 25% of subdued wood cannot be used.
Woodboring caterpillar
Removal of woodworms
Wood is the most popular material, and this is due not only to its practicality, durability, and aesthetics but also because of its sustainability. The woodworms also enjoy the taste of wooden log cabins.
To get rid of these pests, people try to use "folk remedies", starting with vinegar and ending up with formaldehyde. However, when doing so, there is a problem - the agents do not penetrate the wood as deeply as they should (only 1-2 millimetres). Some of these remedies will not harm humans; however, many methods will completely poison people's lives in an already infested house.
As a method of removing of woodworms, the old industry standards advised cutting out the damaged part and burning it! Even material with old worm holes was rejected and could not be used anymore.
Modern agents are different in their use, action, and toxicity, and they all have one thing in common - to prevent the egg-laying process! Still, there are a few pitfalls. The difficulty is that treatment is required every few years - nothing lasts forever. It is also worth mentioning the habituation of woodworms to drugs and the resistance of nature itself. But most importantly, woodboring beetles do not lay eggs on the surface but in cosy places such as cracks, corners, and wormholes. Apparently, it is physically impossible to treat in such places!
Aerosol insecticide sprays only kill pests on the surface but don't touch the gnawing woodworms inside the wood. However, sudden freezing of the infected wood or heating to 55-60°C can provide efficient results.
For low-temperature treatments, it is necessary to act quickly. Otherwise, the larvae will go into winter hibernation like flies, and they will continue with an infestation when it gets warmer. Even hard frosts do not harm them because the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of wood give the insects enough time to reproduce. Woodworms can also be killed by heating to critical temperatures. You can wrap the house in a dome on all sides and heat it for several days with special devices, but this method is very troublesome and expensive.
As a result, all the struggle against woodworms comes down to prevention, starting with wood control in order to minimise infestation, continuing with quality drying in heat chambers, and ending up with mandatory preventive insecticidal treatments.
As a method of removing of woodworms, the old industry standards advised cutting out the damaged part and burning it! Even material with old worm holes was rejected and could not be used anymore.
Modern agents are different in their use, action, and toxicity, and they all have one thing in common - to prevent the egg-laying process! Still, there are a few pitfalls. The difficulty is that treatment is required every few years - nothing lasts forever. It is also worth mentioning the habituation of woodworms to drugs and the resistance of nature itself. But most importantly, woodboring beetles do not lay eggs on the surface but in cosy places such as cracks, corners, and wormholes. Apparently, it is physically impossible to treat in such places!
Aerosol insecticide sprays only kill pests on the surface but don't touch the gnawing woodworms inside the wood. However, sudden freezing of the infected wood or heating to 55-60°C can provide efficient results.
For low-temperature treatments, it is necessary to act quickly. Otherwise, the larvae will go into winter hibernation like flies, and they will continue with an infestation when it gets warmer. Even hard frosts do not harm them because the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of wood give the insects enough time to reproduce. Woodworms can also be killed by heating to critical temperatures. You can wrap the house in a dome on all sides and heat it for several days with special devices, but this method is very troublesome and expensive.
As a result, all the struggle against woodworms comes down to prevention, starting with wood control in order to minimise infestation, continuing with quality drying in heat chambers, and ending up with mandatory preventive insecticidal treatments.
What should I do in case of woodworm infestation?
Microwave equipment is the perfect choice for wooden houses, antique shops, and restoration studios. The killing is immediate, free of toxic residues, and safe for the operator. Microwave energy affects larvae immediately, containing up to 97% instant boiling moisture, plus there is steady heating of the surrounding material to a temperature above 55-60 degrees. This is enough to get rid of both eggs and adult insects. There should be a microwave Shashel in every log cabin. Without waiting for the whole structure to be infested, the entire population is zeroed out. The homeowner always knows the location and can treat the "infected" places first. It should be noted that the equipment perfectly controls the humidity of the wood and perfectly copes with mould, which often accompanies the pest.
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Irritating and playful, slowly devouring the furniture bequeathed by his grandfather, the woodworm gnawed, gnawed, continued gnawing, as if it were a clock devouring time... © Alves Redol
Irritating and playful, slowly devouring the furniture bequeathed by his grandfather, the woodworm gnawed, gnawed, continued gnawing, as if it were a clock devouring time... © Alves Redol
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