Woodworm
Left unchecked, woodworm attack can lead to serious weakening of structural timber and can spoil the appearance of decorative timber.
The attack on timber known as woodworm is generally an assault by the common furniture beetle. Other insects attacking wood include the death watch beetle, powder post beetle, house longhorn beetle and weevils.
All of these are treated in the same way.
Life cycle
All of these insects are beetles, and have a very complex life cycle.
Eggs are laid on the surface of the wood by the adult female beetles. These hatch out into grubs (larvae) which bore into the wood. It is these grubs (i.e.woodworm) which cause damage to the timbers. The grubs eventually pupate within the wood and change into adult beetles which emeerge from the wood, mate and lay new eggs to start a new generation.
The time spent in each stage of the life cycle differs for the various insects, and in all cases the damaging grub stage is the longest. The familiar woodworm holes are caused by the adult beetles emerging from the wood.
Recognition
Attack by wood-boring insects is easily distinguished from other forms of wood deterioration by the distinctive flight holes which appear on the surface and, if examined, below the surface by the tunnels produced by the larvae.
The adult beetles of the different species can easily be distinguished but these only live for a short period at certain specific times of the year. The larvae are most difficult to distinguish, and when there are no adults a diagnosis must rely on the nature of the destruction.
Treatment
Cuprinol Woodworm Killer (F) kills all types of wood-boring beetle larvae. Its deep penetration ensures effective protection for years to come.
To treat bare wood, such as floorboards, use a paint brush and apply Cuprinol Woodworm Killer liberally to the surface - clean the surface first. Apply at least two coats, putting on the second coat before the first one has dried. Always treat the whole area, not just the area that appears to have been damaged. Where timbers are also suffering from wet rot and/or dry rot, use Cuprinol 5 Star Complete Treatment instead.
In inaccessible areas, or to treat a confined space such as a loft or cellar, use a garden sprayer, with either Cuprinol Woodworm Killer or 5 Star Complete Treatment, pointing the lance at the timbers but allowing a coarse spray of fluid to settle on all timbers. Remember to clean out the sprayer thoroughly afterwards.
For timber finished with paint, varnish or polish, use smaller sized tins of Cuprinol Woodworm Killer, or the aerosol version, which are fitted with nozzles to inject the fluid directly into the flight holes. Fill the old flight holes with Cuprinol All Purpose Wood Filler in a colour to match the wood.
