Woodworm can be a really big problem, and if you are here, reading this article, chances are it’s a problem you are worried about. Especially if you’ve recently started to notice an unfamiliar smell permeating your house.
Unexpected household smells are one of the surest signs that something may be wrong. And given the fact that an untreated woodworm infestation has the potential to compromise the structural integrity of your home, you must learn how to prepare.
Table of Contents
Does Woodworm Smell?
Woodworm does not smell, and the critter infestations that produce woodworm do not emit any noticeable odor either.
However, woodworm is often indirectly accompanied by a musty smell that many liken to damp earth or decay.
So, if you detect a damp aroma in the air, it’s time to investigate. In today’s post, we’re going to help you identify woodworm, how to protect your home from the insects, and how to deal with an existing infestation.
What Is Woodworm?
Woodworm does not refer to any single creature. Woodworm is an umbrella term that is used to describe the larval infestation of a wide number of different species of wood-boring beetles.
The tiny larvae feed on the timber inside your home and burrow ever deeper as they grow, creating deep tunnels and canals in the process. While the adult beetles won’t feed on wood, they will look for it when laying their eggs, and thus, the woodworm problem gets worse.
It is very essential to note that the woodworm stage of the larvae when they feed on wood, can last years if left unchecked.
Types of Woodworm
The most common culprits behind woodworm are:
- The common furniture beetles.
- The deathwatch beetles.
- The house longhorn beetles.
- The powder post beetles.
- The wood boring weevil.
How Can You Tell If You Have Woodworm?
Woodworm can be hard to detect until it is far advanced; however, there are some very clear signs you can use to determine if woodworm may be eating up your home’s timber.
- Tiny holes are sprinkled throughout the wooden structure of your home. These holes are fairly circular and typically measure around 2 to 3 millimeters, though bigger ones can be habitually found.
- Small mounds of a fine powder made of the woody detritus of the chewed-up timber near the holes.
- If you see the larva, which is not an easy feat to do since they stay hidden deep inside the wood.
- If you see the adult beetle.
How To Prevent WormWood
While there is no 100% foolproof method to prevent woodworm, there are things you can do to greatly minimize the chance of these wood boring critters from taking residence inside your home.
All of the beetles that cause woodworm are attracted by moisture. Therefore you should keep moisture to a minimum inside your home. This means you should try to improve proper airflow through the interior of your home, use your AC in the summer, and fully ventilate as often as possible.
You should also try to take cooler showers, as the steam generated by heated water seeps into wooden beams and baseboards. Make sure that you address all plumbing leaks as soon as possible, which could also encourage a mold problem.
Make use of the available woodworm preventative treatments. These products have been carefully formulated to kill the types of beetles that cause woodworm, and they are perfectly safe to use as long as you follow the manufacturer’s treatment instructions.
Regular pest control can severely limit the types of critters that enter your home and, thus, help you minimize the chance of woodworking beetles multiplying inside your home.
How To Get Rid Of Woodworm?
So you’ve found the signs. Your home smells mildly of dampness, there is a smattering of tiny holes and a sprinkling of fine wood powder piling up on the floor. What do you do?
Seek professional help right away. Woodworm is a serious matter with the potential to severely and permanently damage your home. Therefore, we can’t recommend that you waste any time attempting to treat them with homebrewed methods.
A quick Google search will net you dozens of local pest control companies to choose from. Just remember that the longer you take, the more wood that these insidious critters will chomp up. So get going!