Effective remedies for the borer beetle in a wooden house

Grinder beetles are insects from the order Coleoptera. The group is polymorphic, so it is difficult to find characteristics for all members of the family, but the general description is still the same for all.

The beetles are small in size, ranging from 1 to 10 millimeters; the most common are individuals 5 mm long. Their antennae are comb-shaped, consisting of several segments. The legs of the larvae are very developed, having claws with two scutes.

Beetles are found everywhere, the most common being the furniture borer, house borer and bread borer. Popularly, these insects are called woodborers, woodborers and woodborers, and the last of the woodborers is safe, but significantly harms supplies of other materials and food.

All beetles develop according to the same pattern and go through four stages. Females lay eggs in holes and crevices of dead wood. Then the larvae appear, they bite into the wood, eating out long, winding passages in it. Before the larvae transform into pupae, they move closer to the surface, the insect flies out and it is not the borer beetle that causes harm, but its larvae themselves. The larvae look like small worms, the body is white, and the head is dark brown.

The period of maturation of larvae from eggs is one to two weeks. They have very hard jaws; the larvae literally burrow into the wood. That part of the wood that has not had time to digest is thrown out; it represents drill flour, which clogs the passages. Larvae develop over a long period of time - from 12 months to several years. In some cases, this may be due to the rather late detection of this pest in a wooden house. Three weeks pass after pupation, and the cycle ends with the appearance of the beetle. This usually happens in early summer.

Grinders are ubiquitous. They destroy almost all deciduous and coniferous wood. Some of them make a sound similar to the ticking of a clock; this occurs during the mating period, when they hit their heads against the walls of the passage.

Description of the insect

Four types of beetles live in heated rooms: furniture beetles, house beetles, grain beetles, barbel beetles, and, less commonly, bark beetles.

Characteristic features of grinder beetles:

an elongated body (from 3 to 10 mm) of a cylindrical shape with a relatively small head; hard wings, covered with a hard chitinous shell with hairs; three pairs of five-segmented legs; antennae of different lengths; color in brownish tones with reddish, greenish-yellow shades.

Adult beetles crawl out of their nests only during the breeding season.

The main function of an adult beetle is mating and laying eggs by females. They do not live long, from one to three weeks. One female lays from 40 to 200 eggs per clutch, depending on the species. The main damage to wood is caused by larvae. From the first minute of their appearance, they begin to actively eat the tree. It takes from one to three years before pupation. During the day, the larva makes passages up to 3 mm in the tree.

Nutrition

The larvae of beetles mainly feed on cellulose in wood and paper. One of the types, bread, is found in food products: dry bread, cereals, dried fruits, pasta. Some species prefer dry wood, others wet. The population of wood grinder beetles causes significant damage to structures and wood products, literally eating it away from the inside, turning it into dust.

Life cycle and reproduction

The danger of grinder beetles is that they have a long biological life cycle, up to three years. The adult individual (imago) of the beetle grinder can be seen only in the warm season in May-June, when it gets out of the nest and mates. Caterpillars inside wood can live from three years to 15–17 years. Periodically, if the temperature fluctuates downwards, it goes into suspended animation.

Cycle:

Eggs. The female beetle grinder lays eggs in cracks, crevices, and in nests that the female makes. They are whitish or transparent in appearance, 1–1.5 mm long. The clutch of eggs contains symbiotic microorganisms, they help the larvae digest cellulose. Larvae. They begin to appear at about 7–12 days. The shape resembles a semi-rolled white worm (3–4 mm). Most have several pairs of short, prehensile legs that help them move along the aisles. Pupa of a beetle grinder. An adult individual is formed from it in 2–3 years. Before transformation, the larva stops eating for several days. The pupa has enough accumulated nutrients.

The optimal temperature for reproduction is +28 – +30°C. If a similar temperature regime is maintained in the house, then certain types of grinder beetles can crawl out and reproduce all year round.

This is interesting. Getting rid of woodworm is difficult. All individuals of the biological chain spend most of their time inside the structures of a log house or hut.

Borer beetles can also be detected by the characteristic sound inside a wooden structure. Before mating, the male lightly hits his head against the walls of the passage. This is a conditioned signal for the female, reminiscent of the ticking of a clock mechanism.

Use of insecticides - antiseptics

Woodworms, Clean-Profi will tell you how to get rid of them. We use special emulsions and aerosols. A drug in another form of release will not cope with beetle larvae. It will not be able to penetrate into the wood pulp. The most popular are insecticides with rapid and residual action. A residual insecticide is used more often because it has virtually no odor and also kills the larva as it penetrates the wood. Its action has not a one-time, but a long-lasting effect.

Insecticides are used for small infestations. If more than 30% of the wood structure is infected, the use of an insecticide will not bring the desired result.

Varieties of wood-boring beetles and harmfulness

The species of grinder beetles, while fundamentally similar, differ in their preferences in food, its types, and living conditions. They also have characteristic external signs.

Longhorn beetle

Their favorite habitat is the trunks of fallen trees, mostly coniferous. Distinctive features of the imago: body length up to 3.5 cm, long whiskers up to 7 cm. Black color with a greenish tint, with whitish down on the tips of the wings. The female lays only one to three eggs, but the larva lives, develops, and sharpens wood for 3 years.

Grinder beetle

Borer beetles are shy insects. At the first sign of danger, it freezes and imitates a dead insect. For this property they are called “pretenders”. The chitinous hood and elytra are brown-red in color, body length is up to 5 mm. Borer beetles mate in late spring and early summer and can fly far from the nest.

One female makes several clutches, the number of eggs is 100–130. The larvae are 2–3 mm, voracious, destroy the tree from the inside, and make long passages in it. They sharpen wooden furniture, books, structures, and dry food. A colony of borers can cause significant damage.

Bark beetle

The name of the beetle indicates that it settles under the bark of a tree. Body length up to 5–8 mm, head elongated, almost merging with the body. Females make several clutches of 70–80 eggs per year.

If a hut or bathhouse is built of logs and there is a bark beetle infested there, then a year is enough for the structure to become unusable. When the first signs of the appearance of borer beetles are detected, it is necessary to urgently take measures to combat it. The bark must be removed from wood before it can be used as a building material.

Furniture sharpener

Chashel are small brownish bugs, 3–9 mm. The female lays up to three hundred eggs. As soon as the larva is born, it makes a small hole and goes deep into the thickness of the wood. It does not drill through holes, so at first you may not notice the appearance of grinder beetles.

The voracious caterpillars live in favorable conditions for years before turning into chrysalises. The tunnels that the shawl gnaws are filled with wood dust. They destroy any wooden structure, from wooden beams to furniture. There are two types: house and furniture.

Bread grinder

Small grinder beetles, with a body length of up to 4 mm, brownish in color. Found in all dry foods, herbs, tea, tobacco. They eat food and bugs. They are fertile, the female lays 120–140 eggs. Larvae (4–5 mm) can live for several days, and in favorable conditions for several years. The cocoon for the pupa is made from small particles of products. Small bugs fly out during the mating period; you can see them on the kitchen windowsill. If small holes appear on grocery bags, they should be thrown away along with the person possessed.

Recommendations for the use of wood materials from Clean-Profi:

inspect wooden structures for damage once a year;
construction should be made from high-quality and treated wood;
When bringing new seedlings to the territory, inspect them and, if necessary, process them immediately.
It is important to replace contaminated wooden elements and dispose of them by burning.

Remember that shashel is a big threat to the entire building. Therefore, you should not wait for the question to arise - how to get rid of woodworm beetle? And the first time you spot this resident in your home, contact us, and we will promptly solve your problems. Your Clean-Profi!

Did you like the article? Share on social media networks

Causes and signs of pest appearance

The main reason for its appearance is the use of low-quality wood that has not been treated with impregnations against borer beetles. Over time, the protective layer loses its properties. During the mating period, beetles fly to other wooden structures and make new clutches. It is necessary to periodically inspect surfaces and protect wood from woodworms. Impregnate periodically with a new layer of insecticides.

Signs of the appearance of grinder beetles:

small holes on the surface of wooden structures, furniture; the appearance of wooden pollen, similar in color to mustard powder; rustling, tapping inside the solid wood in the evening, at night; a characteristic odor from insect secretions, insect pheromones; if you remove the outer layer, you can see grooves , larval passages.

You need to start exterminating beetles immediately, as soon as the first signs appear.

Tap the wood, the sound is different. In a healthy tree it is dull, in a damaged tree it is louder, due to the presence of voids. Pollen will begin to fall out of small tree holes.

How to understand that pests have appeared in the house?

Pests of wooden houses cannot always be noticed in a timely manner. Owners should be wary of the following points:

Detection of a single adult insect or larva.
Holes in wood:
winding passages discovered when cutting a wooden element.
Extraneous sounds made by insects that eat wood in the house (beams, ceilings, furniture, etc.):
crunch;
tapping;
"tick".
Mounds of small sawdust - drilling flour, which adult insects and larvae push out of their passages.
Infected wood becomes soft and spongy and can be easily pierced with a knife blade or screwdriver.

How to destroy parasites with your own hands?

Only comprehensive measures to combat wood borers will help protect wood from destruction by wood borers.

Folk recipes

Apply when the first signs of damage by grinder beetles appear, with a limited affected area.

Methods of pest control:

Impregnation of a wooden surface with a concentrated solution of salt. Mixtures with kerosene. Add 3 portions of turpentine to kerosene (distillation of resin secretions from coniferous trees), mix thoroughly. Lubricate the surface in areas with signs of damage. The procedure is repeated several times. Use protective equipment. The mixture is flammable, with a characteristic odor. The second method is to add kerosene to linseed motor oil (the proportion is 3 parts oil, one part kerosene), saturate a wooden surface with the mixture. Vaseline and wax. Vaseline oil is poured into the holes in the wood using a syringe, and they are sealed with wax. Disinfectant, black carbolic acid, naphthalene, and molten resin are taken in equal proportions, mixed, and applied to wooden structures. The method is more suitable for processing construction beams and boards.

Treatment with folk remedies is repeated periodically. If these methods do not give a positive result, they move on to radical methods of combating borer beetles.

Insecticides

Before you fight wood-boring beetles with insecticides, you need to protect your hands, respiratory tract, and eyes.

Conventional products, such as Dichlorvos, are ineffective in combating beetles; the aerosol ends up on the surface. Penetrates into wood in limited quantities.

Preparations:

"Anti-bug." A complex action product that destroys not only grinder beetles, but also mold and mildew. Does not change the color of wood, therefore it is suitable for processing structural elements of furniture and lumber. Apply to the surface 2 times, with breaks until completely dry. Advantages: affordable price, low toxicity. If wood holes are found on the surface, pour the drug into them with a syringe.

"Empire 20". A broad-spectrum insecticide in the form of microcapsules, which extends the period of influence on parasites to six months. Low toxicity, leaves no traces. Destroys primarily adult individuals, interrupting the reproduction cycle. The best time for processing is May-June, the mating period of grinder beetles. Spray and wet the contaminated surface.

"Treetox." A drug for year-round use. Prolonged exposure (up to six months). The tree is treated 3 times, with an interval of 21 days. Lubricate wooden surfaces, insert a syringe into the holes made by the beetles, and seal them with wax.

"Lingofix I-pro." A new generation of means to combat borers affects the reproduction of insects and affects their growth. Can be processed at any time of the year. It is recommended to disinfect wooden exterior parts after 10 years. One portion of Lingofix I-Pro is diluted in three parts of water before use. After processing and complete drying of the preparation, the surface can be opened with stain, varnish, or paint. In conditions of severe damage to wood, it is injected into holes on the surface. Or drill diagonal holes with a thin drill and pour the diluted drug into it.

"Belinka belocid." A combined product made from a mixture of alkyd resins and biocides. It is toxic, so spraying is not recommended. Does not change the color of wooden coverings. Used as a prophylactic to protect against the borer beetle. In order to sanitize the affected areas, treat the surface several times and inject it into the wood holes with a syringe. Allow the wood to dry for a week, then repeat the treatment.

Application of dry steam

In a bathhouse or sauna, dry steam is obtained by heating the heater stove to 600–700°C. If you pour water on a hot stove, dry steam is formed. Heating a room with dry steam to a temperature of 85–90°C leads to the death of pests.

Fumigation

Method of fumigating a room with PH3 (hydrogen phosphide). For these purposes, special equipment is required, so it is right to entrust the processing to professionals. The gas is toxic, protective equipment is required. Fumigation is a highly effective remedy that penetrates into all cracks and holes, destroying the entire population of grinder beetles. Treatment lasts 24 hours, ventilation – 2 days.

The second method is fumigation using sulfur bombs (“Pawn-B”). It is better to poison the beetle grinder during the breeding season in May–June.

Microwave

A professional way to exterminate bark beetles. Using a microwave generator, the damaged surface is treated. At temperatures above 60°C, the entire population of grinder beetles dies. The advantage is targeted impact, high efficiency.

Douching

The douching method is based on the introduction of insecticides into the holes made by grinder beetles. In case of deep damage, additional holes are made with a thin drill. After processing, they are sealed with wax.

Heat treatment

The best remedy for woodworms in a wooden house is to freeze it to at least –3°C. The beetle and larvae die at sub-zero temperatures. A good way to control pests in a bathhouse.

Heat the structural elements with a construction hairdryer to a temperature of +45°С ... – 50°С. The larvae and eggs of the borer beetle die.

Dry steam in the fight against shashel

When using the dry steam treatment method, the wood is heated to +80 degrees Celsius. Larvae die when they reach +50.

The method has a number of advantages:

the wood structure is preserved;
the tree is cleaned not only of larvae, but also of other pathogenic organisms, such as fungus;
steam can penetrate even the most difficult to reach places;
It is not necessary to evacuate residents and workers.

Prevention of woodworm occurrence

Preventive measures against the borer beetle are an essential element of protection. These include:

cleaning the tree from bark; visual inspection of the material; drying the wood in special chambers in the sun.

Treatment of structures with insecticides (such as “Senezh”, “Pinotex”), special impregnations, stains, opening with varnish is an essential element of wood protection.

Borer beetles are dangerous pests. They spend most of their biological cycle inside a wooden structure, so they are difficult to immediately detect. Despite the insidiousness of the pest, there are many effective means to overcome the pest.

How not to buy wood with bark beetle

Wood that is waiting to be sold in a warehouse can also be attacked by the bark beetle.

To avoid purchasing such material for construction, follow these precautions:

Inspect the wood for small holes and tracks.
If you buy wood with bark, inspect its ends for damage.
The wood must be dry.
If you are purchasing a pre-built wooden structure, be sure to carefully inspect it for damage from bark beetles. It is possible that the house is being sold for this very reason.