Common furniture beetle
(Anobium punctatum)
This is the most common of the wood-boring beetles in the United Kingdom.
Whilst attack can occur in freshly-dried timber, in practive infestations are rarely noted in wood unless it has been in service for some years.
The common furniture beetle (Anobium ounctatum) attacks most woods, both softwoods and hardwoods. It is commonly found in furniture, structural timbers (particularly in roof timbers of houses), plywood and wicker. Although regarded as a pest of 'dry' wood, it does not flourish in very dry wood. It has therefore become less common in timbers in those parts of the house kept dry by central heating. Conversely, a little dampness helps Anobium and infestation is often particularly severe in cellars and outbuildings.
Flight holes on faces of wood are circular and about 2mm in diameter, with sharp edges if the holes are new. In advanced attack, wood is extensively bored and contains many tunnels and galleries. Tunnels are filled with bore dust which is visible as small cigar-shaped pellets (under a magnifying glass they are roughly egg-shaped).
The life cycle of the common furniture beetle is usually two or more years, with adults emerging between May and September. Females usually lay 20-40 eggs each but may be up to 80 in batches.
