How to treat wood against bark beetle? Basic means of protection and prevention

Bark beetles are small insects that can cause big trouble. These beetles up to nine millimeters in size, gathered in colonies, are capable of turning wooden buildings, floors in the house and furniture into dust.

How to stop pests and how to treat wood against bark beetles? The best remedy, of course, is prevention. But if the insects are already infested in the tree, they can be removed using several methods, which we will discuss in the article.

Signs of bark beetle in wood

It’s easy to understand that beetles have already settled in the wood. There are several signs of the presence of bark beetles:

The appearance of rot. These are powdery traces from the work of pests, which are also called “drill flour”.
Bark beetle passages. It is worth carefully inspecting the wooden elements for small holes left by insects.
Softness of wood. The affected areas can be easily pierced with a knife.
Changing the color of the tree. Especially noticeable in coniferous species.
Rustling. Listen, are there any barely audible sounds inside the tree? Insects move by gnawing out passages and creating a little noise.

Varieties

In total, there are about 750 species of bark beetles. More than 140 species can be found in Europe. The following types are most common in Russia.

Shashel. Can be found in the house and on the site. In a short period of time it can completely destroy a plant or furniture. It is white in color and has dark tubercles near the neck. The most dangerous stage is the larva, which can last for several minutes. The pest can be detected by piles of wood dust and by the characteristic grinding sound that the insect makes when it grinds food with its jaws. It is very difficult to get rid of it.

House woodcutter-bark beetle. It reaches a length of up to 1.5 cm. It likes to feast on treated wood, especially spruce. It causes the most damage in country houses, where it gnaws through wooden beams and ceilings. Prefers rooms with high humidity.

Large pine beetle. It has a body length of 4-8 mm. The carapace is shiny, brown in color, covered with hairs. Found in the forest. It lays eggs under the bark of weakened pines and can feast on the cores of young shoots, which is why the branches break off in strong winds. Larvae and adults make passages in the trunk of a pine tree, which is why it becomes depleted and dies, especially if the beetles live in it for several years.

Typograph beetle. Reaches a length of up to 5 mm. The most voracious species. Capable of destroying vast forest areas. It feeds only on the sap of spruce trees. It lays larvae under the bark of weakened plants, where they eat succulent bast. As a rule, beetles choose centuries-old spruce trees, which contain a lot of nutrients. If a pest penetrates under the bark, it is almost impossible to remove it from there, because chemicals do not penetrate into the barrel. There is only one way out - to cut down the plant and destroy it along with the printer. Since the insect feeds only on the sap of “living” plants, it cannot be found in “dead” wood - log houses, wooden buildings, etc.

Grinder. They are also called pretenders for their ability to pretend to be dead at the right moment. Beetles are born in late May-early June. They do not eat anything for several weeks, so they do no harm. Then the females lay eggs in different holes in the tree - in cracks, cuts, from which the larvae hatch. The larval stage lasts 1-2 years. During its life, the larva actively devours old wood - old furniture or wood products, and makes numerous passages in them. They can be detected by yellow piles of dust.

Chemical and biological means of protection against bark beetle

If you notice any of the signs, you should act immediately! What should wood protection from bark beetles look like? First of all, you need to pay attention to chemicals. You can buy an antiseptic or impregnation. They help fight not only insects, but also their larvae. Popular products are Senezh, Antizhuk, Clipper, Antishashelin and others.

When using chemicals, you must wear personal protective equipment - gloves and a respirator.

There is an alternative way to get rid of uninvited guests - biologically. antipheromone agents are often used that imitate substances secreted by a large colony of bark beetles. The insects receive a signal that the territory is occupied and avoid it.

There are also so-called “pheromone traps”. If the first means repel, then these, on the contrary, attract bark beetles. Just keep in mind that such a trap may attract pest beetles from outside.

Dr. Klaus

A special preparation for treating bark beetles, it acts in a targeted manner, 1 bottle is enough for about 15 trees. Destroys adult insects and larvae instantly. The volume of the bottle is 1 liter, the ejector is connected to a hose, and the bark is sprayed under water pressure. It does not harm foliage; it is recommended to remove heavily affected areas of wood before starting the procedure.

Advantages:

acts immediately;
convenient packaging, no need to dilute the solution, connects directly to the hose;
destroys adult individuals, prevents further spread of bark beetles in wooden surfaces;
low consumption;
works against wood-eating insect species, removes the population, and prevents subsequent emergence.

Flaws:

toxic odor, a respirator is required.

Contains lambda-cyhalothrin: kills insects through physical contact and when ingested. Acts on the nervous system of parasites, causing paralysis. The poison is spread by insects within the colony, as a result everyone dies out in a short time. Another substance in the composition: transfluthrin. Non-toxic, fast-acting insecticide, persistent. A mixture of these substances gets rid of topographer beetles, which are capable of destroying trees with enormous speed.

Treatment is carried out in the spring, when bark beetles wake up and prepare to attack. The beetles absorb the product, and after 30 minutes the first individuals die, infecting the rest. Dr. Klaus doesn't just help in the garden. Wooden buildings and warehouses are safe after the procedure and retain their integrity.

How to use:

Connect the ejector to the hose.
Protect your face, hands and clothing (gloves, respirator, etc.).
Start from the farthest corner of the area.
Open the water, point the device towards the tree, turn the tap to the ON position.
Move with your back to the untreated area in the opposite direction.
Then close the tap, turn off and disconnect the hose.

Animals and people should not visit the sprayed area for 3 hours. At this time, the product will be absorbed and will begin to provide benefits.

According to customers, Dr. Klaus helps as a preventative, kills beetles that have already appeared on the wood. It is recommended to spray trees before leaving the site to avoid harm to pets. Convenient to use, no container for the solution is needed, just connect it to the hose and start processing. The main thing is to use it in accordance with the instructions on the back of the bottle. The beetle disappears for the whole summer, the harvest and integrity of the garden are preserved.

Treatment of wood against bark beetle using folk remedies

Protection of the log house from the bark beetle, as well as all wooden elements, can also be carried out using folk remedies. The most popular methods:

Hot drying oil. You need to saturate the wood with this product, then dry it and paint it.
Kerosene + turpentine (one to three). The resulting mixture is injected with a syringe into the passages left by the beetles.
Boiling water. This method is quite popular among the people, but it is worth warning that the appearance of the tree may deteriorate after scalding. So this recipe can be used, but where the beauty of wooden elements is not so important.

Ordinary table salt, machine oil and sodium fluoride solution are also used as impregnation. They are suitable when the treatment of boards against bark beetles is carried out at the initial stage of beetle damage.

Review of popular fumigators

Electric fumigators are the most widespread.

They are inexpensive. Blocks of replacement plates and liquid cylinders can be purchased at supermarkets, pharmacy kiosks and even grocery stores.

Mosquitall

The fumigator is universal; you can insert plates or a bottle of liquid into it.
Fumigants: plates and liquid, odorless.
Manufacturers guarantee the fire safety of the device.
The plug of the device can be rotated 90° and plugged into a socket with any location and inclination.
Some Mosquitall devices have a built-in switch and extension cord, so they can be placed anywhere. This is especially convenient in bedrooms, where sockets are usually located next to the bed.

Most of those who have used Moskitol fumigators consider them to be of high quality, reliable and effective.
Literally a few minutes after switching on, the mosquito buzzing stops and does not disturb sleep even with the windows open. Galina was hospitalized in the summer: “There is a shady park near the hospital campus. Lots of spreading trees and lots of mosquitoes. On the very first night I was “eaten.” I got ready for the second night. She asked me to bring Moskitol with records from home. I turned it on all night. Due to the heat and stuffiness, the window in the room was open. But the mosquitoes didn’t bother me anymore.”

The disadvantages of Mosquitol in the reviews are the rapid consumption of liquid and heating of the device itself during operation.

"Raptor"

The devices have a rotating fork.
There is a power indicator.
Raptor liquids and plates can be purchased neutral, odorless, or flavored.
In addition to conventional powered devices, customers are offered battery-powered Raptor Mobile fumigators. The new product will be able to improve the quality of recreation where there is no electricity.
Spare batteries and a cartridge included will ensure uninterrupted operation of the device while hiking or on a country vacation.

As reviews show, those who believed the Raptor dinosaur from television advertising do not regret it.

Olga from Krasnodar says: “We have several electric fumigators from different companies. In the summer, guests often come, and every room needs protection from mosquitoes. Sometimes fumigators break down and you have to buy new ones. And the Raptor has been in service for several years. Our device is a simple, outdated model, but now they make it much nicer. But it works fine. I also buy Raptor liquid. I think it is the most effective. But a bottle is not enough for 30 days.”

Raid

An inexpensive device with plates can last for more than one year.
Raid fumigators with a built-in timer and a power regulator have appeared on sale. Considering that users consider the strong heating of the device to be a disadvantage of fumigators from different manufacturers, new options are very relevant.
Fumigators "Raid" are considered simple and reliable.

Tatyana has been using this for several years: “To be honest, I chose what was cheaper. And I don't regret it. Last summer there was a mosquito infestation. But my “Raid” did it. The plate is easy to insert. Then I plug everything in and a restful sleep is guaranteed. There is no noise from the device, just a smell.”

But many people prefer that there are no aromas while the fumigators are working. In reviews they noted the irritating smell of Raid records.

"Fumitox"

From the line of products produced by this brand, the most popular are the Fumitox mosquito coils.

Unlike records and liquid, smoke has no odor at all.

Spirals work very effectively. For lovers of country life and picnics, spirals have become a real salvation from mosquitoes. Even at home, a spiral lit for just half an hour ensures a restful sleep throughout the night.

Treating a wooden house against bark beetle

The worst thing is if the bark beetle has settled in the house. First, inspect all wooden elements - walls, furniture and more. Prepare everything you need:

choose a pest control product
When using chemicals, wear protective equipment
remove other residents and animals from the house, remove plants.

Now you can start processing:

first clean the wood from dust and dirt (you can use a vacuum cleaner or brush for this)
saturate the wood with protective agents
pour antiseptic with a syringe directly into the beetles' passages
close the holes with sealants (silicone can be used)
After treatment, you should apply varnish or paint.

We fight insect larvae

To destroy the beetle larva located deep in the wood, you need to deliver chemicals to the insect's offspring. This is possible in a number of ways:

Injection. The drug is drawn into a syringe and injected into the tree under pressure. Fill the holes with liquid oil using different types of oilers. Shut off the air. To do this, the surface is coated with rosin, epoxy, resins and varnishes. Use a steam generator. In this case, there is a double impact - hot steam and toxins in its composition. Warming up the wood using any available methods: microwave generator, infrared lamps.

Prevention against bark beetle

It is easier to prevent any disease than to treat it. And if we are talking about an invasion of bark beetles, it is especially important to follow this rule. Removing pests can sometimes be very difficult. Therefore, it is better to follow preventive measures:

during long-term storage, logs and boards should be treated from moisture
if you buy wood, check for holes and other signs of beetles
for construction, use only dry boards, as humidity creates favorable conditions for attracting pests
do not allow moisture to accumulate on logs and boards
carry out preventive treatment with special impregnations
varnish finished wooden products.

So, we found out how to treat wooden logs and boards against bark beetles, as well as how to protect your home from a colony of these insects. It is up to you to decide which processing method to choose. The main thing is not to forget to carry out timely prevention in order to get rid of the problem forever.

BI-58 New

An improved version of the insecticide BI-58 to combat beetles that feed on plants. The action is based on the substance dimethoate. After coating, the product is absorbed into the bark and penetrates into the deeper layers. Insects eat them, are poisoned and die, BI-58 paralyzes the nervous system. The new composition of the drug lasts longer, and its effectiveness does not depend on weather conditions.

Fruit trees that are traditionally grown in Russia are resistant to the effects (apple, pear, plum trees), and are suitable for shrubs (currants, raspberries, gooseberries). Also used for gardening, indoor plants, and in greenhouses.

Advantages:

applicable not only for bark beetles, but also for other types of parasites;
safe for trees;
acts quickly;
harmless to people and pets;
stimulates growth, helps to recover from destruction;
used simultaneously with other pesticides.

Flaws:

not suitable for hard water;
Processing should be carried out during the growing season, at a temperature of at least +12 degrees.

The drugs are produced in capsules, 1 piece per 10 liters of water. The exact dosage is written on the package, depending on the crop being treated. For a garden, 1.6-2 liters of ready-made solution per 1 hectare. Use the solution immediately; storing is not recommended. Use clean water; hardness affects performance. After the start of flowering, the plants are prohibited from being processed; the composition negatively affects future fruits. Cannot be used after the first frost; the likelihood of defeating parasites is reduced several times.

Please note: apply only on the bark, the leaves suffer and die from the substance, follow the dosage.

Buyers recommend it on the positive side, it helps get rid of bark beetles in a short time. It works for a long time, a maximum of 2 applications per season. The smell is specific, unpleasant, the pheromone trap repels parasites. Inexpensive, convenient packaging. It is allowed to mix with fungicides and other insecticides (except for the mixture with AZOFOS). It is not recommended to use it near bees; when spraying, use a respirator and gloves.