What is Beetle Infestation?

Many insects are able to use wood as a food source. In doing so they make hundreds of tunnels which can cause serious damage to the wood. Insects are commonly known to attack trees and damp wood found in the garden, and are easily recognised. However there are a few insects that are able to survive in dryer conditions found in the home.

These insects lay eggs which hatch to form small grubs known as larvae. For the next 1-5 years until metamorphosis, the larvae feed on cellulose and lignin found in timber, which results in a mass network of tunnels bored inside the wood. After metamorphosis, the cycle begins again with the new adults laying more eggs.

The adults don’t survive for more than a few weeks but, it is a common time for them to be seen, as they travel to find new feeding grounds to lay their eggs. If no action is taken, colossal infestation could appear following a long period of time, causing structural weakness to timber sites such as roof support, floorboards, and joists.