Wood borer beetle (Ptilinus pectinicornis)

The Wood Borer Beetle (Ptilinus pectinicornis) is a small ‘woodworm’ beetle of the family Anobiidae, and is closely related to the Common Furniture Beetle. It produces holes that are similar in size, 1~2mm, with a talc-like pink or cream bore dust or ‘frass’ that is quite difficult to dislodge from the timber. The bore holes are numerous and close together.

Adult Ptilinus pectinicornis beetles are up to 3.5-5.5mm length. They are distinctive due to the highly developed antennae; eyes much larger in the male. The beetles have black or brown heads with a lighter body.  

Species attacked include hardwoods like beech, elm and willow.   Unusually, in addition to normal tunneling damage by the larvae, the adult female beetle actually bores into the wood. It is stated that the female, having excavated a brood chamber in wood and laid eggs, remains in the chamber to protect the brood.   Damage often originates in timber yards and the  'infestations' are not uncommon in air-drying timber intended for furniture manufacture.  A dramatic picture can be found here.

Woodworm Treatment

In this case the infestation may be remedied by insecticidal treatment, although in some cases it may be cost-effective to replace the damaged timbers. Consult a woodworm specialist to diagnose the type of woodworm infestation and the appropriate treatment. Peter Cox Ltd will send an experienced surveyor to visit your property. They will describe the potential woodworm treatment costs and alternatives. Please contact us by completing our woodworm enquiry form or by telephoning us on 0800 030 4701.

References:

THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM OF PTILINUS PECTINICORNIS L. WITH A NOTE ON THE TERMINALIA OF THE PUPAL ABDOMEN (COLEOPTERA: ANOBIIDAE) P C Gardiner 2009

BRE307 Identifying damage by wood-boring insects

Wharf borer beetle (Nacerdes melanura)

Wharf Borer Beetle (nacerdes melanura) is a small wood boring beetle of the family Oedemeridae (which are also known as ‘false blister beetles’). It is destructive to piling and wood under wharves, wet flooring, wet boxes, wood lying on damp ground, buildings near the water, and sometimes telegraph poles. The timber is always damp and decayed when the wharf borer infestation occurs, but large numbers of the adult beetles can emerge from the wood, causing problems to operations and building projects.

As the name suggests they are often found in wharf timbers or other timbers that are submerged in water. In a property you will usually find them in cellars and very damp subfloors. It attacks both softwoods and hardwoods. Species attacked included oak, poplar, and pine.  These 'infestations' are not uncommon in coastal and riverside locations.

Wharf Borer Beetle

Wharf Borer Characteristics

Adult wharf borer beetles are up to 12mm in length. The beetles are pale reddish-brown with distinctive black tip to wing covers, detected on or around damaged timber in May and June. You will notice large, oval emergence holes, about 6 mm across, leading to irregular galleries.

The beetles are known to invade adjacent buildings in great numbers causing a nuisance. The larvae are up to 30 mm long and are slim and greyish-white. The larvae can be found all year round, on or in damaged timber.

As and example, the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works reports that 2% of stored waterlogged timbers from the centuries-old Mary Rose ship were infested by larvae of the wharf-borer beetle, and that it had penetrated polyethylene sheet used to wrap timbers.

Woodworm Treatment

If possible, the important issue is to correct the dampness and water ingress. The effected timbers are likely to be of poor quality through dampness and rot and should be replaced.

Consult a woodworm specialist to diagnose the type of woodworm infestation and the appropriate treatment. Peter Cox Ltd will send an experienced surveyor to visit your property. They will describe the potential woodworm treatment costs and alternatives. Please contact us by completing our woodworm enquiry form or by telephone us on 0845 222 0404.

Woodworm Treatment

Woodworm is the name for a group of insects that bore holes in wood. In fact the insects lay their eggs in the wood or in the grain. The larvae bore tunnels in the timber, feeding on the cellulose, the result can weaken the timber structure. When the adult beetles emerge from the wood, they leave visible holes and bore dust (called ‘frass’). The adults are especially active in springtime.

House Long Horn Beetle Damage

Different beetles attack different types of wood, for instance some attack soft wood and some attack hard wood, so some species may be more damaging for structures. Also some beetles may be more common if different geographic areas.

Beetle damage on truss

Woodworm Survey

Obviously it is important to be sure about the nature of the woodworm infestation, and how damaging it has been or will be. A professional survey will tell you which type of beetle is causing the problems, and how harmful it is. In many properties the surveyor may need to lift the floorboards and/or enter the roof space, and he or she may lift the roof insulation if necessary to examine the timbers. The professional surveyor will evaluate the treatment to be used, prevention measures to be taken, and the cost, which will depend upon:

• The nature of the woodworm beetle that is active.
• How serious the infestation is.
• Whether there are structural risks.
• Whether timber needs to be repaired or replaced.
• How big an area is to be treated.
• If timber replacements are required.
• Whether it is easy to gain access to the infested areas.

Here’s where to book a woodworm survey.

Woodworm Treatment

Peter Cox technicians use the latest insecticidal formulations that eliminate the woodworm insects on contact as they pass through the spray treated timber. Deep seated Death Watch Beetle infestations, in large section structural hardwoods for instance, require a more targeted treatment and here a deeply penetrating insecticidal gel is employed. 

The standard treatment contains permethrin which is a widely used, relatively low toxicity insecticide. After one hour people can re-enter the space that has been treated. Boron is an alternative treatment, also water-based, low-odour and non-flammable. The chemicals are usually applied as a spray. However, brush, injection, gel or paste formulations are also used. The formulations are licensed by the UK Health & Safety Executive, and are safe for people and pets.

Also if dust and debris are covering the area, this will need to be removed before treatment can take place. If there is a risk to the structure, timbers that are seriously infested with woodworm may need to be cut out and replaced with new healthy timber, or else restored using resin repair methods.

For more information please visit http://www.petercox.com/