Woodworm pest control in Mallorca
Woodworm is the name given to the larval stage of wood-boring beetles of the xylophagous family, which feed exclusively on wood during this stage.
Woodworm infestation: detection, control and treatment
Woodworm infestation in wood
Woodworm prefers to feed on dead wood, especially wood that has already been worked, such as furniture and beams, rather than natural wood such as dead tree trunks. It also favours softwoods such as pine and cedar.
In spring or autumn, the beetle looks for new food sources, where it settles to chew the young part of the wood and mate. The larvae that hatch then keep digging galleries and tunnels until they become adults and leave the wood through exit holes.
Not all types of wood resist this larva equally. Pine, beech, chestnut, maple and cedar suffer the most, while mahogany, acacia and juniper are the most resistant to woodworm.
Woodworm can cause serious damage to wooden structures because the infestation does not stay in one piece but quickly spreads to nearby structures.
Because of how serious and dangerous it can be, it is important for a professional to accurately diagnose the damage to structures.
If the problem is limited to a small area, you can treat it yourself, but if it is serious, you will need professional help.
Signs of infestation: how to detect woodworm
Because the damage larvae cause inside the wood cannot be seen, woodworm infestations are often only detected once they have already caused serious damage.
The main sign of woodworm is sawdust falling and building up near the affected structures.
The larvae release sawdust as they dig their tunnels. Depending on the species, it can be very fine or coarser and cylindrical in shape.
The colour of the sawdust also tells us something. If it is white, the infestation is recent. If it is brown, the infestation is old, but that does not mean the woodworm has gone.
When the beetles are ready to leave the wood, they make exit holes.
The difference between woodworm holes and termite holes is that woodworm holes are clearly open and always come with sawdust, whereas termite holes are covered in mud and have no sawdust.
To check whether a piece has woodworm, you can insert a needle into the holes. If it sinks in, it is not woodworm, because woodworm digs its galleries parallel to the surface and the hole bends at a very shallow depth.
The presence of adult beetles on or around the furniture is also a fairly clear sign of woodworm. They usually emerge in the summer months, so it is a good idea to be especially watchful during this period.
If the problem appears, get in touch with us and we will help you get rid of your woodworm infestation professionally.
At J&L Plagas we use treatments approved by the Spanish Ministry of Health to provide woodworm pest control in Mallorca.
How a woodworm infestation differs from termites
They are very different insects in appearance. Termites have six legs and a clearly defined head, a pair of antennae, may or may not have wings, and are whitish in colour.
Woodworm, on the other hand, is the name for the beetle’s larval stage.
We can identify which type of woodworm we have at home from the size and shape of the holes.
There are several types in Spain, but the best known is the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum). The adults are very small and brown, with an almost cylindrical body. The larvae are white, soft, curved and have small legs.
How to get rid of woodworm throughout the house
There are different wood treatments for common woodworm at home. They can be divided into treatments carried out by professionals as part of a woodworm pest control service in Mallorca, and home remedies.
Bear in mind that it is highly advisable to get an accurate diagnosis from a woodworm pest control professional in Mallorca, as damage to structures and beams can be a very serious problem and cause structural damage.
If the damage is limited or the affected piece of furniture is small, you can try one of these home remedies:
Vinegar can help eliminate woodworm when used alongside another treatment, preferably heat or cold treatment.
You can blow hot air from a hairdryer directly into the holes, as these insects do not tolerate heat well, nor cold. In areas where temperatures drop below -10 ºC, you can leave the furniture outside so the cold kills the larvae. In this case, cover the furniture to protect it from moisture, as larvae thrive in damp conditions.
Another option is injecting chemicals directly into the holes in the wood where the woodworm lives.
After these treatments, clean the treated area again and apply an anti-woodworm varnish to the wood.
Woodworm infestations can damage the structure of your home or business if you do not act quickly. With the help of woodworm pest control experts in Mallorca such as J&L Plagas, you can be sure your problem will be solved safely and effectively.
Fighting woodworm with professional help
Woodworm pest control in Mallorca
There are several ways to eliminate woodworm.
For small pieces of woodwork, we can spray the surface.
For large structural surfaces, such as beams or wall panelling, the best method is injection: an insecticide is injected under pressure into the wood.
Like spraying, the use of gels aims to stop woodworm from boring into the wood.
One of the most effective professional methods is woodworm treatment by anoxia. This technique places the infested materials in heat-sealed bubble bags to create an oxygen-free atmosphere, eliminating insects and microorganisms with no risk to the treated materials. A system monitors temperature, humidity and oxygen levels, keeping the temperature between 24 ºC and 28 ºC.
At J&L Plagas we use treatments approved by the Spanish Ministry of Health, providing woodworm pest control in Mallorca as part of integrated control of any type of pest.
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