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Woodworm Beetle Species
Woodworm are actually the larvae of woodboring beetles. There are several species of woodworm beetles in the UK. Some are more prolific than others and each have variations in lifecycle, preferred timbers they infest and extent of damage they can cause.
The Common Furniture beetle is the most widespread across the UK; however Death Watch, House Longhorn and Powder Post beetles can also infest timbers. With time, these woodboring insects will greatly reduce the strength of the timbers they infect. Infestations often go unseen - as the main damage is caused inside the wood for several years before adult beetles emerge through 'exit' or 'flight' holes.
Common Furniture Beetle
(Anobium punctatum)
Much damage caused by wood boring beetles in UK buildings can be attributed to the Common Furniture beetle. Its natural habitat is the broken branches of trees and areas where the tree bark has been removed.
Appearance
Adult beetle is 3 - 4mm in length.
Life cycle and habits of the Common Furniture Beetle
Life Cycle
Larva will live for 3 - 5 years boring through timber before emerging to breed.
Habits
- They actively fly in warm sunny weather.
- Within homes and other buildings the furniture beetle is an exceedingly common pest.
- Despite its name this beetle can invade more than just furniture.
- Infestations can damage decorative woodwork, musical instruments, wooden tools and on a more serious scale wood flooring, joinery and structural timbers.
- These wood boring beetles consume hardwoods and softwoods.
Death Watch Beetle
(Xestobium rufovillosum)
A native to Britain the Deathwatch Beetle has been well known for several hundred years. It prefers to infest hardwoods such as seasoned oak, ash or sweet chestnut which have been softened by fungal decay, meaning it is found mostly in historic buildings. These older buildings are more susceptible to Death Watch Beetle, as their timbers have been exposed to decay and infestation over a long lifetime.
Appearance
- Adult beetle 5 – 7 mm in length.
- Dark reddish brown colour.
Life cycle and habits of the Death Watch Beetle
Life Cycle
Larva will live for 5 - 10 years boring through timber before emerging to breed.
Habits
- Rare as far north as Scotland - the main concentration of this pest is within southern and central England.
- This pest’s unusual name is derived from the 'tapping' or 'ticking' noise the adult beetle makes when trying to attract a mate.
- Superstitious occupants of medieval sick rooms who heard this in the quiet dead of night, whilst keeping vigil over the sick and dying, associated this sound with being an omen of impending death.
House Longhorn Beetle
(Hylotrupes bajulus)
This beetle is not native to the UK, although originating in Europe this pest now has a worldwide distribution. Within the UK the House Longhorn Beetle is mainly established in the South East, in particular north west Surrey and to a lesser extent in London. It's long established presence in Surrey has earned it the nickname of the 'Camberley Beetle'.
Appearance
- Adult beetle 7– 25 mm in length.
- Reddish brown colour with a greyish/white spot on each side.
- Long curved antennae
Life cycle and habits of a House Longhorn Beetle
Life Cycle
House longhorn beetle emerge from timber during July to September. Adults never feed, but live for 3-4 weeks after pupation.
Habits
- The House longhorn was originally found outside in decayed softwoods, but came inside when man first used these for construction.
- It is mostly found in North West Surrey, which gave rise to the alternative name of Camberley beetle.
Powder Post Beetle
(Lyctus brunneus)
One species of Powder Post Beetle is commonly found in Britain. This beetle infests hardwoods such as Oak, Ash, Elm, Walnut, Sycamore, Sweet Chestnut and African Mahogany. It attacks these wide-pored hardwoods because the female beetle is able to fit her eggs into these pores. Timbers such as Beech, Birch and Horse Chestnut have pores which are too small and are therefore rarely attacked by the Powder Post Beetle.
Appearance
- Adult beetle 4 – 7mm in length.
- Red/brown in colour.
Life cyce and habits of a Powder Post Beetle
Life Cycle
- Adult beetles usually appear in the summer months, but in heated premises they can be found throughout the year.
- The larvae gradually reduce the infested timber, just leaving a thin veneer of wood on the surface.
Habits
- Emerging adults make pin-hole sized openings 1 to 2 mm in size, often called 'shot holes’.
- Whole lifecycle is completed in about one year.
- Primary pest of timber yards.
- Given enough time, wood will be reduced to a mass of fine powder that crumble to the touch, hence the name 'powder post'.