Insects and Rot
Wood destroying insects include termites, powder post beetles, carpenter ants and carpenter bees. Among these, termites, carpenter ants and powder post beetles infestation can cause significant structural damage to a home. Carpenter bees are more of a nuisance pest.
Termites are difficult to find, as they live in the soil and only enter the structure to feed. They do not like to be exposed to light or dry air, so they eat within the wood and rarely reach the surface, making them all the more difficult to find. In most homes found to be infested with termites, owners are not even aware of their presence.
Carpenter ants can infest any home, and are generally drawn in by favorable conditions such as damp or decayed wood. Powder post beetles are primarily a pest of older homes, but a powder post beetles infestation is possible for newer homes as well if damp wood is available.
All wood-destroying insects and organisms prefer damp habitats, so your best protection against infestation is to keep your framing clean and dry. Eliminating basement and crawlspace moisture is essential, and in addition, leak proof roof flashing should be maintained, and wood - soil contact should be eliminated at places such as basement window frames and where planters are installed against the side of the house. Taking such precautions, along with monitoring for insect activity, will help keep your home safe from wood destroying insects damage.
Powder Post Beetle Infestations
Powderpost beetles can infest any item made of wood. Generally they prefer wood with a high moisture content, however there are also beetles that live in dry wood. Adult beetles are dark brown or black and measure only ⅛” to ¼” in length. Unsealed wood can harbor beetle larvae, so adults might not emerge until long after the home construction is completed. It could take even years, depending on the species and individual conditions. The heat from kiln-drying kills all stages of powder post beetles, however the process is not a cure for reinfestation.
How do wood destroying insects like beetles damage wood?
Adult beetles lay eggs in the crevices of uncoated wood, and when larvae hatch they start tunneling. Sometimes, the outline of tunnels can be observed near the wood’s surface, following the soft areas of the grain, but in many cases you can’t see any evidence that larvae are present. As the larvae bore, the tunnels behind them become packed with sawdust. They mature near the surface of the wood, then adults break the surface, leaving tiny round holes where they emerge.
How to get rid of powder post beetles - Wood Treatment Pesticide
There are a number of chemicals that can be used, but they will not penetrate sealed wood. A more extreme and costly measure is to tent the house and use poison gas to eradicate the powder post beetles. However, it is advisable to ask a professional for specific advice regarding your particular situation, because in some cases you’ll learn there is nothing to be overly concerned about and the inspector will simply tell you to watch for further development.
How to Prevent Powder Post Beetle Infestation
If your house has a dirt basement or sits on a crawl space, first of all cover the earth with plastic in order to reduce moisture, and watch the surface of the plastic for sawdust falling from floor joists above. Then, inspect the floor or moldings beneath interior wood walls. Small piles of sawdust indicate beetles have been in the wood, but they are not necessarily a sign of active infestation. In addition, inspections should be scheduled each year with a qualified home inspector to reduce risks of wood destroying insects infestation.
How to Spot Termites and Other Wood-Destroying Insects and Organisms
Early detection can be a life saver, as it can protect your home from significant damage caused by wood destroying insects. One of the biggest threats to your house are tiny pests that silently and invisibly consume or live in wood, from the sills of your foundation all the way up to the rafters on your roof. According to Orkin, a nationwide pest-control company, wood destroying insects cause more than $1 billion a year in property damage in the United States
Termites
Subterranean termites, the most common type, cause 95% of all termite damage in North America, and they are found in every state except Alaska, but they are most prevalent in the South. You can test for infestation by poking wood with a screwdriver - if the tip goes in easily or you hear a hollow sound when you tap the wood, you may have a problem. Look for thin gritty gray-brown film on the surface of damaged material, and check for narrow mud tubes on both the interior and exterior of your walls and foundation. Through these tubes, termites travel between their colony below the ground and their feast above - your house.
The only time they come out in the open is when they swarm, i.e. flying “reproductives” that leave the colony, mainly in the spring, to mate and start new colonies. Still, they shed their wings and head underground within a few hours, so you may not spot the swarm itself. Instead, look for discarded wings that resemble fish scales. Evidence of an indoor swarm (swarms can occur both indoors and outdoors) such as discarded wings or corpses of termites that could not find a way out is a clear sign your home is infested with termites. They are most likely to damage anything that contains cellulose, the main component of wood, including low moisture wood paneling, paper products, cardboard boxes, art canvases, carpeting and so on.
Carpenter ants
Carpenter ants bore into damp and decayed wood to make nests, and forage through your home, mostly at night, looking for water and food. They eat just about anything humans eat, and are especially fond of sweets, fat and protein. For early detection, check for swarmers in the spring and for piles of frass - a mixture of wood shavings and fecal matter. Rustling sounds may indicate a nest as well. Carpenter ants tunneling may cause serious structural damage if it occurs in key timbers, and if a carpenter ant exists inside a structure it is generally a sign that there is or has been a water problem.
Carpenter bees
Carpenter bees are common in all regions, burrowing into wood - preferably unfinished - to make nests. They drill almost perfectly round entry holes about one to two inches in diameter, leading to tunnels where they lay their eggs. To spot them, check near eaves, decks and siding. Carpenter bees are less likely to cause serious structural damage than termites or carpenter ants, but their entry holes can allow moisture to enter the wood and attract other wood destroying insects and organisms.
Homeowner Resources or Professional Pest Inspector?
No matter how vigilant you are, you should schedule a professional inspection at least every few years. Many pest control companies will perform a free inspection for wood destroying insects and for conditions conductive to infestations, such as moisture.
Generally, a wood destroying insects inspection (WDI) ranges between $100 and $200, depending on the size of the home. The inspector will likely pull on coveralls and spend about an hour probing the home, from attic to crawl space, for any visible signs of infestation and damage. In addition, for about $100 to $400 a year, some pest control companies will even perform annual wood destroying insects inspections, that come with warranties.
If the inspection reveals wood destroying insects or damage, the company will eradicate the infestation and make any necessary repairs at no extra charge. On the other hand, you may be required to sign up for a round of preventive treatment at a one-time cost of $1,000 to $5,000.