Woodworm is a common furniture beetle that cause infestations inside of wooden items and structures. There are four main stages of the woodworm life cycle.

Stage 1

As with most beetles, the first stage is in egg form. A female woodworm will start the process by laying her eggs directly into the timber through any cracks or crevices that are present.

Stage 2

After a few weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae, which immediately begin to burrow down into the wood. It is at this point woodworm damage to your timber starts!

Stage 3

Woodworm larvae can eat constantly for up to 5 years, moving up and down the timber eating everything in its path. This is where the structural integrity of your wood is compromised, as there are often hundreds of larvae eating at one time, and you are left with woodworm infestation. Dust can sometimes be seen at this point in the cycle, where the larvae reach the edge of the timber and turn back on themselves.

Stage 4

The final stage is the transformation into an adult beetle. The larvae form a pupal chamber and evolve into a beetle within the safety of the wood. They then eat their way out of the timber, and this is often where you will see the small round holes left behind.

And then this cycle starts all over again!

Woodworm treatment is important to reduce structural damage to a property. Whether you think you may have woodworm infestation or require woodworm specialist services contact Prokil today. The earlier we can identify a problem the easier it is to resolve without mass structural damage.

If you believe you have a woodworm infestation you can find out more about our timber services and book a home survey today.