Treating Woodworm

The term woodworm refers to several different species of wood-boring insect. These beetles lay their larvae in timber, and the larvae then feed on the wood as they develop - weakening the structure and causing significant structural and cosmetic damage.

Woodworm can strike when you least expect it. The beetles are harmless outdoors, but once they get inside they will bore through any wood they can find, from furniture legs to structural support beams. Any infestation should be dealt with as soon as possible, so call JG Pest Control for expert woodworm treatment across London and the wider UK.

Chemical-Free Woodworm Treatment

JG Pest Control delivers a pioneering, 100% chemical-free woodworm treatment using microscopic parasitic wasps. It is non-destructive, highly targeted and ideal for stately homes, museums, churches and listed buildings.

Trusted by heritage organisations and high-end property owners, it is one of the most advanced and discreet options available today.

JG technician inspecting timber for signs of woodworm

Species of Woodworm

Common furniture beetle

Common Furniture Beetle

The most common species of woodworm found in homes and buildings across the country. It feeds on both hardwoods and softwoods, and is responsible for the majority of UK woodworm infestations in furniture and floorboards.

Deathwatch beetle

Deathwatch Beetle

A well-known species that makes a distinctive ticking noise when mating - which is where it gets its name. It has destroyed numerous building structures over the decades and can be very difficult to eradicate, so professional help is strongly recommended.

House longhorn beetle

House Longhorn Beetle

A larger beetle attracted to softwoods. Roof timbers are an ideal nesting ground, and in warm weather the adults fly, causing an infestation to spread to neighbouring properties. More prevalent in some areas of the UK than others.

Powderpost beetle

Powderpost Beetle

A hardwood eater that, if left untreated, will completely destroy timber. If you find crumbled or broken timber that turns to fine dust, it may have been at the hands of the powderpost beetle.

Signs of Woodworm

Exit HolesSmall round pinholes in the surface of the wood where adult beetles have emerged - the most common early sign of an infestation
Frass (Bore Dust)Small piles of fine, powdery wood dust on or beneath affected timber, left behind as the larvae feed and tunnel
Crumbling TimberA significant infestation weakens wood until it becomes brittle and crumbles, particularly along edges and joints
Weak or Damaged WoodFloorboards, beams and furniture that feel soft, spongy or structurally unsound where larvae have tunnelled inside
Tunnels in the WoodVisible boreholes and channels just under the surface when timber is cut, broken or splits open
Ticking NoiseA faint ticking sound, especially from deathwatch beetle, heard during the mating season in older structural timbers

Woodworm Infestation

  • Wood-boring insects are commonly found outside, where they seldom cause a problem
  • If they enter your home it could soon become infested
  • These insects infest floorboards, wooden beams and any wooden furniture
  • Larvae feed inside the timber until it weakens and crumbles to dust

Why DIY Removal Fails

  • Once an infestation occurs there is no effective do-it-yourself method of eradication
  • Shop-bought products may only control, not eliminate, the problem
  • A survey is usually required to determine the true extent of the infestation
  • Woodworm must be eradicated rather than simply controlled, or damage continues

Woodworm Removal

Specialist woodworm removal requires expert help. JG Pest Control offers various methods of woodworm treatment across London and surrounding areas. We will survey an infestation before advising on the best option for removal.

Treatment options include a chemical application, timber treatment or a specialist controlled heat treatment. Heat treatments are often the most effective and least invasive for the homeowner, but chemical and freezing treatments may be used as an alternative or in addition. All of our methods are guaranteed and bespoke to each individual circumstance, and carried out by RSPH (BPCA) Level 2 certified and trainee technicians.

Treatment Types

Find Out More

Heat Treatment →