The woodworm (Anobium punctatum) is an insect belonging to the order Coleopterafamily Anobiidaeand is the main parasite of furniture and wooden structures that we find in homes. The species Anobium punctatum it is among the most common woodworms, so much so that it is called woodworm of furniture. The larvae of this small parasite feed on the wood by digging large tunnels, ending up seriously compromising the quality of the furniture and, in general, the integrity of the wooden artefacts. It is therefore important to be aware of their presence in our homes in time and to act with remedies that do not involve the use of toxic chemicals.

In fact, there are several sustainable solutions to eliminate woodworm, and in this article we will see what they are.

Description of the woodworm

Anobium punctatum
The adult of Anobium punctatum it is a small beetle 2-5 mm long. As an adult the color is reddish brown, covered with a thin yellowish down. The head is triangular in shape, similar to a monk’s hood, and is equipped with small antennae with the last 3 segments more developed than the others. The wings, elytra, show longitudinal streaks. Viewed from the side, it has a rather curved upper profile.

Egg

The egg of the woodworm is white in color, its shape resembles that of a lemon. One of the two poles is affected by an alveolar sculpture.

Larvae

The larvae are responsible for the damage to the wood. They are white in color, except for the brown buccal appendages. Their body is covered with thin golden and erect bristles. In addition, on some segments they have a double set of spines. At full maturity, the larva measures 4-5 mm in length.

Woodworm damage

Woodworm holes in the wood
Woodworms develop by damaging hard woods, usually those of good quality furniture, such as mahogany, ebony, walnut, cherry, etc. However, it does not disdain even the softest woods of conifers such as fir. The larvae, feeding on the starch and cellulose of the wood, dig tunnels with a diameter of 1-2 mm, the lumen of which is occupied by a reduced quantity of granular rosura, composed of excrements and waste of woody fibers.
Woodworm not only attacks furniture, but also beams and other wooden structures found in homes (floors, boards, partitions, skirting boards, etc.). These larvae have a great digestive capacity and therefore are able to attack even very old and hard woods, such as those of antique furniture or the structures of centuries-old houses.

How to notice the woodworm

woodworm
The larvae, having reached maturity, pupate inside the wood itself and then give life to the adults. These come out of the wood by making small and clear round holes, about 1-2 mm in diameter. Therefore the holes that you see on the furniture are exit holes and not entry holes.
This is the most evident sign of the presence of woodworms, but when you see the hole and the rosura that comes out (dust on the ground) the damage has already been done or is in progress. Damage to furniture is therefore often latent. Also because, unlike other species of woodworm, such as large cerambids, theAnobium punctatum it makes no noise.
This detail will then help us to understand how to eliminate woodworms without using chemical pesticides.

Life cycle of the Anobium punctatum

The adult forms of the woodworm generally flicker in the spring months, but the exact period is very variable depending on the environmental conditions. The adults of these small beetles live little, no more than a month, during which they mate. The females then lay their eggs in the cracks in the wood, even the smallest and most insignificant. Embryonic development varies from two months, with temperatures around 15 ° C, to a couple of weeks, with temperatures between 25 and 30 ° C.
The larval development, the one that the woodworm carries out inside the wood, is instead very slow, even 3-4 years. Once the development is completed, the larva pupates to give life to the adult, which, as mentioned, comes out of the wood by making a round hole.

Antagonistic insects and risks for humans

Woodworms, larvae or adult forms, are not directly harmful to humans, since they do not sting, to put it simply. However, there are antagonistic insects of Anobium punctatum or some species of mites, such as Pyemotes ventricosus or other parasitoids, such as Sclerodermus domesticus And Cephalonomia gallicolawhich eliminate the woodworm, but what they can cause dermatitis in humans with their bites. Therefore, in addition to the injury, the insult of his antagonist.

How to eliminate woodworms

Eliminating woodworms is not a simple operation. In the past, chemical insecticides were mainly used, through fumigations and injections of insecticide directly into the wood. However, in addition to being toxic, these interventions do not have a sure success, on the contrary. For example, some inject the insecticide into the holes, without considering that they are the exit holes of the adult insect and not the entrance, so the action is completely unsuccessful.
The use of woodworm products, those found in hardware stores, have a more protective action on the wood and are not at all decisive for deep and perpetuated infestations over the years.
Fortunately, in recent years, more sustainable solutions have been consolidated, which act differently against wood borers, let’s understand what they are.

Anoxic method

The anoxic method is ideal for treating small to medium-sized furniture that can be moved. The system foresees the insertion of the piece of furniture inside a “bubble” made in PVC, from which the air is removed and in its place CO2, or carbon dioxide, is introduced. The CO2 saturates the bubble, which is kept at a controlled temperature for about 15-20 days. Inside the bubble all the forms of the woodworm (adults, eggs, larvae and pupae) cannot survive, therefore the woodworm is eliminated definitively. This method is harmless to materials and can be done in homes without risk of toxicity. Obviously, however, it must be performed by specialized pest control companies.

Thermal methods

Other solutions to eliminate woodworms are those called thermal. We know that these small beetles do not survive in low or high temperatures. To save a small piece of furniture you can use the cold, placing the product in the freezer for a few hours. The use of high temperatures is simpler, through special microwave equipment that is passed on the wood until temperatures above 50 ° C are reached, which kill the parasite. This system is suitable for eliminating woodworms that infest beams and floors, or wooden structures that are fixed or that cannot be moved easily. Usually this system is less expensive than the previous one.

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Philip Owell

Professional blogger, here to bring you new and interesting content every time you visit our blog.