How to deal with wood borers in your furniture

What they are and why they matter

Wood borers, also known as wood-boring beetles, lay their eggs in wooden surfaces. The most common type found in furniture is the furniture beetle, which does real damage to antique heirlooms and modern pieces alike. The beetles eat their way through the wood, creating pin-sized holes and turning sturdy furniture into dust.

The adults lay eggs in the cracks or pores of the wood. Once the larvae hatch they tunnel through it for nutrients. That tunnelling weakens the wood and eventually leads to structural damage. Left unchecked, it ruins pieces beyond repair.

Signs of an infestation

• Small round holes. Tiny holes, about one to two millimetres across, in the wood.
• Powdery residue. A fine dust around the furniture. That is frass, left behind as the beetles bore through.
• Weakened wood. If the wood feels brittle or starts to crumble when touched, the infestation is well advanced.

Treating it

Getting rid of borer in furniture is a challenge, but it is doable with the right approach.

• Chemical treatment. The most common approach is an insecticidal paint made for wood-boring insects. It penetrates the wood and kills the larvae and the adults.
• Fumigation. For extensive infestations, fumigation is the answer. The piece is sealed up and treated, which reaches the larvae inside the wood rather than only what is on the surface. It is not a same-day job. Ask us what the piece needs and we will tell you straight.

Prevention

• Moisture control. Wood-boring beetles like damp conditions. Keeping humidity down makes a house less attractive to them.
• Treat the surfaces. Varnish or wood sealant applied regularly makes a surface less appealing for laying eggs.
• Inspect regularly. Check older and antique pieces in particular. Catching it early is the difference between a treatment and a loss.