Why to Prioritise Borer Control

When people think of bugs destroying wood, they often think of termites. Since termites are such a huge problem in Australia, that is a natural assumption. However, termites are not the only insects that can destroy the wood in your home. Assuming you do not have wood damaging bugs just because you do not see signs of termites can set you up for lots of destruction. That is why you need to make borer control a priority.

What Are Borers?

In case you do not know, borers are beetles. They lay their eggs on timber. Once hatched, the pupae bore their way into the wood, where they live until adulthood. They eat and tunnel through the wood, eventually burrowing a hole to the surface. So, the first sign you see of borers may be the little holes they leave when the exit. These holes are usually filled with frass, which is a very fine sawdust that is the byproduct of their boring.

Because adult borers leave timber, you may not think of them as being as damaging as termites. However, the tunnels inside the timber weaken it. Untreated holes can threaten your supportive structures. The holes also increase the possibility of water damage. Finally, even if borers do not impact your structural integrity, they can impact the appearance of your home. No one wants wood that is full of tiny holes!

Where To Find Borers In Your Home

Australia and New Zealand have several different borer species. While they have some differences in their physical appearance, their larvae all feed in the same way. Plus, they have similar living habits. They enjoy dampness. That may be the south side of buildings or near the floor, because these areas are more likely to be damp. They also like inside wood like doorframes and windowsills. You may find them in sub-floors and in roofs as well.

You probably will not see the borers emerge. They like to come out in low-light. They also like wood that is hidden from the light. So, you want to look for holes in hidden areas.

It is difficult to spot their eggs. Even though borer females can lay up to 100 eggs, they can be difficult to spot. That is because they usually lay eggs on rough wood surfaces or in old exit holes or other hidden areas. Instead of spotting eggs, you may be more likely to spot wood damages or even dead beetles.

Treating Borers

Treating borers is usually a two-part process. You can fumigate furniture or a house. However, fumigation is only going to treat flying beetles. Treating the wood can more effective, and we have products that work as fungicides and insecticides. They act on borers before they emerge, which can help limit damage.

Want to find out more? Contact Flick today. We can inspect to see if you have a borer problem. If so, we can develop an individualized plan that is based on the extent of your borer infestation.