Common furniture beetle

Inform Guide: Insect Attack to Timber, published on 22 January 2016 by Historic Scotland states: ‘Commonly known as woodworm, the common furniture beetle is the most likely insect to threaten timber in Scotland. The beetle can be identified by the round holes which they produce in timber and the egg shaped pellets of bore dust they leave. The damage is caused by the larvae that, after hatching, bore into wood in search of nutrition. This larval phase can last for up to 3 years, therefore, if left unchecked, considerable damage can be caused to structural timber. Where moisture content is below 12% it is hard for the larvae to survive. Conversely, where moisture content is high, and especially where rot has already occurred, timber is particularly vulnerable to attack. Sapwood (the outer section) of soft wood trees such as pine spruce and fir is especially prone to infestation. A serious outbreak of furniture beetle larvae can cause severe damage and when coupled with rot, could well require replacement of timbers.’

See also: Woodworm.

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