Here’s what you need to know about old house borers and how to get rid of them.
Defining Old House Borers
One of the most destructive wood-boring insects is old house borers. They are members of the "long-horned beetle family" and lay their eggs in the fissures and cracks of logs and wood at lumber yards.
It can take several years for their eggs to hatch, but once they do, the larvae begin tunneling through the wood in search of nourishment. The clicking sound made by the larvae as they feed a common indicator of an old house borer infestation.
Adult old house borers are brownish-black beetles with abundant gray hairs on the head and thorax, two visible black lumps on the prothorax, and 5/8 to 1 inch long antennae. A gleaming ridge runs along the center of the thorax, with a gleaming raised knob on either side that mimics a face with two eyes.
The most typical cause of an old house borer infestation is infested timber used in the home's initial construction with eggs or larvae. Borers of old houses prefer thicker wood, and infestations tend to be confined. If there is a moisture problem, the infestation will spread throughout the house and relocate to water-damaged wood around your house.
How Do I Know I Have Old House Borers?
In a previous article, we identified some of the signs you have old house borers or wood-destroying insects in general:
- Soft spots in wooden flooring and stairs
- Mud tubes on the outside of your home
- Hollow places in your wooden rails, studs, and floor
- Windows and doors that have mysteriously started jamming
- Excess moisture, especially in basements and attics
- Holes in your home’s exterior surfaces
- Termites leave behind discarded wings, which you may find in a piles
- Something similar to a bumblebee buzzing just outside your home, maybe around your fascia or soffit
- Wood that seems to be disintegrating
What you hear is the most telltale indication of old house borers. You may hear a clicking sound as they gnaw and ruin your home's wood flooring, cupboards, or furniture. This is the most common way old house borers announce themselves.
What Can I Do About Old House Borers?
Simply trying to ignore old house borers or turn the volume up on the television to drown them out is not a solution. Unfortunately, these pests can do quite a bit of damage and present a number of issues if you ever choose to sell your home.
In our region, wood-boring beetles, such as old house borers, are extremely common. They prey on furniture, cabinets, flooring, doors, support beams, and other wood items. These ravenous, destructive bugs are more frequent in newer homes and may wreak havoc throughout the South.
Regardless of what kind of wood-destroying insects you have in your home, the best way to prevent damage is to eliminate them as soon as possible. You can also keep wood-boring insects at bay by:
- Reduce the amount of dampness in your home.
- Water damage should be repaired, and rotten timber should be replaced.
- Your wood should be sanded and treated.
- Seal up any cracks in your basement or crawlspace.
For homeowners in the Carolinas and Virginia, you need someone you can trust to exterminate old house borers and other wood-destroying insects. There is no one with more experience and expertise than the team at Rid-A-Bug Exterminating. We have been helping property owners throughout the area for fifty years.
When you call Rid-A-Bug, you can count on your extermination being history in twenty-four hours or less. Reach out to us the moment you suspect the presence of old house borers.