| Borer beetle |
- Identification
- Borer are also known as woodworm and furniture beetle.
- Species – Common Borer, Native Borer, Two-Tooth Borer, Citrus (Lemon Tree) Borer and others.
- Eat dead wood – dead trees, construction timber, furniture.
- Common Borer (and Native) adult beetles are small brown beetles (2-3mm) that can fly. Often found on windowsills.
- Small holes in timber – like drawing pin holes.
- Two-tooth – not so common – larger black beetle (6-7mm)
- Holes 4-5mm oval
- Dust falls out of holes.
- Clean wood inside hole means the hole is probably recent, meaning ongoing infestation.
- Holes tend to be in areas of low light – i.e. more under floor than on top.
- Breeding
- Female beetles lay eggs on bare timber i.e. not on paint, varnish, polish etc.
- But they will lay eggs in old flight holes.
- Eggs hatch as larvae that burrow into wood.
- After 2-4 years larvae pupate near surface.
- Adult beetle emerges and eats its way out – flight hole.
- Borer flight season October to March in NZ.
Protection is best by treating bare timer with long lasting borer fluid (NO Borer Conc) – up to 10 year’s protection. Solvent (turpentine or kerosene) move product deep into the timber; the deeper it goes the longer it lasts.
Borer Injector can be used to inject flight holes – kills borer larvae close to labyrinth and protects for eggs layed in holes.
Borafume Fumigators kill borer beetles. Does not penetrate far into wood and leaves little or no residue. 2-4 year life cycle means need to use fumigators every year (twice a year between October and March) for 4+ years to greatly reduce borer in wood.
- Feeding habits
- Larvae eat wood – digest cellulose with micro-organisms in gut.
- Only eat soft timbers – sap wood.
- Hard heartwood usually un affected.
- Prefer wood with a little moisture – sub-floor, roof timbers near leaks, or with moisture holding terracotta/concrete tiles.
- Because of slow growth it takes many years to do significant damage to timbers.
- But many houses in New Zealand are over 50 years old.
- Spread
- Borer live in wild as well as in houses.
- Fly from house to house, forest to house, in furniture moved from house to house.
Untreated timber is always at risk of borer damage.
- Treatment
- Fluids
- Borer fluid on accessible timber – sub-floor, roof timbers, when GIB off internal walls etc.
- Fluid will not be effective on paint or other coatings.
- Borer Injector – flight holes.
- If many holes close together, possible to use NO Borer in sponge and sponge ito holes. (wipe off excess).
- Smell from solvent (turps or kerosene) can last several days. Only use in good ventilation.
- Spray or brush on. If spraying, use coarse spray to reduce mist in atmosphere.
- Fumigators
- Kiwicare NO Bugs Borafume or Bug Bomb
- Fumigators for places where timbers cannot be treated – hard to reach, painted areas, etc. Need to be used on 4+ consecutive years.
- Fumigate October to March (NZ).
- Borer fluid any time.
