The Woodworm Life Cycle

The woodworm life cycle is very common and in keeping with most other species of insects. The female beetle will lay eggs in the cracks, pores or crevices of timbers on either the surface or just underneath. Once they have hatched the wood boring larvae feed, sometimes for several years, on the timber. As they do they create tunnels which is when the damage starts to occur.

When the larvae reach maturity they pupate to allow the change into beetle. Upon becoming beetles they then tunnel to work their way out of the timber. It is often at this stage that the ‘flight holes’, coupled with the presence of frass, are the first indicators that there is a woodworm infestation. Knowledge on the different types of these can help to correctly identify the species.