Common furniture beetle
Inform Guide: Insect Attack to Timber, published on 22 January 2016 by Historic Scotland states: ‘Commonly known as woodworm, the common furniture beetle is the most likely insect to threaten timber in Scotland. The beetle can be identified by the round holes which they produce in timber and the egg shaped pellets of bore dust they leave. The damage is caused by the larvae that, after hatching, bore into wood in search of nutrition. This larval phase can last for up to 3 years, therefore, if left unchecked, considerable damage can be caused to structural timber. Where moisture content is below 12% it is hard for the larvae to survive. Conversely, where moisture content is high, and especially where rot has already occurred, timber is particularly vulnerable to attack. Sapwood (the outer section) of soft wood trees such as pine spruce and fir is especially prone to infestation. A serious outbreak of furniture beetle larvae can cause severe damage and when coupled with rot, could well require replacement of timbers.’
See also: Woodworm.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
A call for prevention and sensitive re-use.
The CIAT principal designer register
Providing assurance and verification of the capability and competence of registered ATs.
Building Safety recommendations and Northern Ireland
The NI roadmap to improving safety in high rise residential.
BSA residential sector competence standards guidance
BSAS 01:2024 Organisational Capability Management System Standard - Competence Assurance.
Specifying rendered external wall insulation for fire safety
How to interrogate the evidence provided to the specifier.
The benefits of writing articles for your organisation
How to create a profile for your organisation and publish for free.
No Falls Week. The importance of safe working at height
What to expect and what is on offer to avoid accidents.
Scottish Government action to reach net-zero targets
Retrofit expert group highlight critical actions needed.
A forward thinking, inclusive global community of members.
From engineered product life-spans, to their extension.
Circular economy in the built environment
A brief description from 2021. Where are we now?
CLC publishes domestic retrofit competency framework
Roadmap of Skills for net zero.
Understanding is key to conservation.
Open industry engagement survey seeks responses
Institutions and the importance of engagement.