Other Types of Woodworm


Powder Post beetle (Lyctus brunneus) Adult:


A mid reddish brown beetle around 8 -9mm in length; somewhat flattened in shape. A ‘triangular’ shaped thorax and parallel sides to the abdomen. Identification:


Superficially the damage looks like Common Furniture Beetle damage, the holes being of similar size.


NOTE: It only attacks the sapwood of wide-pored hardwoods like oak and obeche; timbers must be of recent origin, ie, less than 15 years old and therefore it is only likely to be found active in recently introduced hardwood items, eg, oak flooring, new oak furniture/kitchen units.


Round holes 1.5 - 2mm Usually lots of flour-like frass - smooth when rubbed between fingers. Lots of frass frequently beneath surface. Watch out for this damage in plywood where it attacks the obeche core.


During emergence live insects may be found near holes.


This insect is inevitably introduced in the material – it does not simply fly in and infest! House Longhorn beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus) Adult:


A large beetle between 15 – 20mm in length. Black to dark brown with long antennae. Two patches of grey hairs on wing covers and two shiny protuberances on thorax.


This insect is VERY localised to the south-east of England, centred around the Camberley area.


Identification: House Longhorn beetle can cause severe structural damage Attacks the sapwood of softwood. Large truly OVAL emergence holes 6-8mm across. LOTS of very loose frass with readily visible short ‘sausage’ shaped pellets.


Severe internal damage with lots of frass; tunnels truly oval and tend to coalesce to form frass filled spaces. The surface of wood often remains as a thin sound ‘veneer’ in a severe attack.


www.timberwise.co.uk 0800 288 8660


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