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What is the best way to tell if you have wood borers in your home in South Africa?

All You Need to Know About Wood Borers

South Africa is home to three main species of wood borer insects. Bark beetles are the most serious threat to forests and trees throughout the world. South Africa’s wood borer insects are mild in comparison.  

Wood borers clean up forests and feed on dead trees. They form an integral part of the ecology in woodland settings. Wood borers break down wood and play a significant role in the decomposition of wood.  

Once they invade homes, however, they become destructive.  

How to Recognise if You Have an Infestation  

It could take several years before the telltale signs of infestation become clear. The timber supply may have had wood contaminated with insect eggs or hatchlings. Since life cycles take years, it can be quite some time before you recognise the infestation. 

We recognise wood borer beetle infestations in homes by their fine sawdust (frass), dead bodies, flight holes, and faeces. Not all wood borers need treatment. 

Wood Borer Insects and Furniture 

We often associate wood-boring beetles with moist environments and poor ventilation. You need to get rid of any furniture that shows signs of infestations. Infested furniture can help spread the infestation to other parts of your home. 

Wood Borer Beetles Will Make You Want to Take Quick Action  

You will need to call in the pest control experts to recommend to you what action to take. Wrap any invaded furniture in plastic. You will then need to place these in freezers for a couple of weeks.  

Your pest control professionals will apply various methods, sometimes including fumigation. Your expert pest control specialists could also suggest heat treatment. The treatment plan will depend on the type of wood borer and the extent of infestation. 

Shining the Spotlight on 3 Different Wood Borer Species  

1. The Common Furniture Beetle. 

Your valuable furniture items can suffer damage through the work of the Common Furniture Beetle. The formal name of the Common Furniture Beetle is Anobium Punctatum. Adult beetles grow 3-4mm long. The larvae of the Common Furniture Beetle lives 3 to 5 years. They bore through the wood before surfacing to breed.  

The natural habitat of this beetle includes the broken branches of trees. The beetles also invade loose tree bark. Common Furniture Beetles take flight during warm weather. They can invade furniture, wooden structures, and more. Wooden tools, instruments, and other wooden items get damaged by these pests. These insects feed on wood, both hardwood and softwood. 

2. The House Longhorn Beetle. 

Is it time to worry? The answer is yes. The House Longhorn Beetle’s scientific name is Hylotrupes Bajulus, and it infests roof spaces. The adult beetles grow up to 25mm long. They infest softwoods, including spruce, fir, and pine.  

The damage is often extensive around chimney areas. Flight holes found can range from 3 to 7mm in diameter. The larvae tunnel and only emerges between three to eleven years later. Longhorn beetles take flight during hot weather, spreading their infestations between structures.  

3. Powder–Post Beetles.   

The Powder–Post Beetle infests hardwood timbers. Examples of typical wood infestations include elm, sycamore, and African mahogany. They also include stinkwood, yellow wood, and eucalyptus, among others. The pores of hardwood trees make them a perfect place for females to lay their eggs. 

Adult beetles appear when their surroundings are warm. They destroy wood until they leave a thin surface layer of wood. We often find Powder–Post Beetle in timber yards. 

What Will Make You Take Action? 

You need to protect your investment. We refer to none other than your bricks and mortar. That’s why you can let Mostert Professional Pest Control Services assist you with wood borer invasions. You might sell your home, or you might stay where you are. Either way, you cannot ignore the fact you have a wood borer insect in your midst.  

Preventing further damage to your home by calling on our expertise will nip the problem in the bud. Let us put a plan of action in place, quote you for free, and tackle the problem. We offer a professional service that will sort out borer beetle infestations head-on.