Woodworm

Wood-boring insects may attack growing trees, wood in storage and even wood already installed and in use. Infestation of installed construction wood (roofing, doors and windows, panelling, flooring, etc.) can be identified by the characteristic pitting on the surface of the wood, the sound produced when tunnels or passages are drilled by the insect larvae, and the wormholes or wood flour under the infested pieces of wood.

Such damage is usually caused by the larvae of wood-boring beetles, which are known as “woodworms” because of their appearance. The method of restoration of the infested wood depends on the type of wood product, the thickness of the wood elements, the type of wood and the wood insect. Further infestation and damage can usually be prevented by using proper primary protection agents such as Silvanolin® or Silvanol, which should be applied as thoroughly as possible to the exit openings (holes), cracks and also on the remaining surface of wood. On products where the appearance or aesthetic function is also of great importance, such as windows and doors, the exit holes can be filled with a suitable putty after application of the appropriate preservative.

Insects present in wood can also be eliminated by heating the wood, which requires the wood (including the heartwood) to be above 80 °C. Treatments at lower temperatures (e.g., above 55 °C) need to be carried out considerably longer. By treating waste wood infested with woodworms (e.g., elements of removed roof structures) with Silvapro®, it is possible to produce interesting pieces of wood for stylized furniture and thus reuse it for the production of high added value products.