Wood-boring insect · Anobium punctatum · Last updated 24 August 2026
Woodworm
The common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) bores tunnels through softwood and hardwood. Its presence shows as small round holes (1–2 mm) with fine sawdust beneath. It's the larvae, invisible for 3 to 4 years, that cause the structural damage.
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Woodworm attacks roof frames, parquet floors, antique furniture and woodwork. An old infestation can structurally weaken a roof frame with no visible outward sign. Treatment combines pressure injection of insecticide into the tunnels with brushing of exposed surfaces. Deep borate gel ensures lasting protection.
Identify
Signs of infestation
- Small round holes, 1 to 2 mm in diameter, on the surface of wood (emergence holes left by adults)
- Fine, cream-beige sawdust (frass) accumulating under affected timber (a sign of recent, ongoing activity)
- A faint scratching or ticking sound in the silence of the night (adults boring their way out)
- Tunnels visible in cross-section in degraded wood, packed with compressed sawdust
Where it's found
The common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) attacks untreated timber over 10 years old: floorboards, antique furniture, roof beams, softwood framing (pine, fir, spruce). It doesn't affect modern treated hardwood or contemporary impregnated structural timber. Adults emerge from May to August and lay eggs in the pores and cracks of the wood.
Impact
Associated risks
Structural weakening
An active infestation left untreated eventually hollows out joists and beams from the inside. The outer surface looks sound while the inside is hollow. Risk of partial floor collapse in older buildings.
Heritage impact
Old emergence holes don't necessarily mean an active infestation. Telling recent holes (clean edges, fresh sawdust) apart from old ones (grey edges, no sawdust) is essential before any treatment.
Good practice
Prevention
- 01Treat bare, unvarnished wood with linseed oil or a borate product, forming a barrier females won't lay eggs in
- 02Maintain adequate roof ventilation (moisture above 20% in the wood activates the larval cycle)
- 03Check whether the holes are active (fresh sawdust, clean edges) before any treatment: an old hole with no sawdust doesn't warrant chemical intervention
Frequently asked questions
What you're asking
How do I identify a woodworm infestation?
The signs are small round holes of 1 to 2 mm in the wood, fine beige sawdust (frass) beneath, and sometimes a faint nocturnal ticking. Fresh holes are light-coloured inside. Woodworm is active from March to July: that's the optimal treatment window.
Is woodworm dangerous to the structure?
A light infestation in thick timber poses little danger. But an old, extensive infestation in roof frames or joists can weaken them significantly. The extent must be assessed before drawing conclusions. A probe inspection estimates the depth of the tunnels.
Is heat treatment effective against woodworm?
Yes, thermal treatment (heating to 55–60 °C for 30 minutes) kills larvae, eggs and adults without chemicals. It suits furniture. For roof frames in place, pressure injection of insecticide remains the most practical and lasting method.
Insect Control
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