Wood Damaging Insects - A Brief Synopsis

Wood is a durable material primarily used in building homes and even commercial buildings. When properly cared for, these structures can last for more than a hundred years. The oldest wooden house in Europe is the Bethlehem House found in Schwyz, Switzerland. It has been around for more than 700 years!

Houses made of wood are beautiful but they can be marred by wood-damaging insects. Potential homebuyers usually turn down houses that have the presence of these insects. But experts say that 85% of infestations are either inactive or have already been rectified by a previous treatment. 

The key to protecting your home from wood-damaging insects is to accurately identify them before deciding on what control measure to undertake. To help you, we enumerated the common insects that can potentially harm your home below:

Termites
These social insects are small and delicate. They are sometimes called “white ants.” They eat wood and turn the wood fiber into sugar. Their highly organized colonies make them the most destructive and efficient wood-destroying insect. The good news is that there are only a few homes that have termites in them. Termite infestation can be controlled by chemical treatment. 

Carpenter Ants 
Carpenter ants are large black to reddish brown ants that measure between  ¼ to ½ inch in length. The bring destruction to homes by excavating into the roof framing where they build their nests. They prefer damp wood. Insecticides can be used to destroy the nest. Dusts or sprays can also be used where ants are commonly seen. 

Powderpost Beetles
These flat, reddish brown to black insects measure less than ¼ inch in length. They are notorious for turning the wood they eat into fine powder or dust. They can damage both hardwood and softwood. Species that attack hardwood are very hard to control and can bring both cosmetic and structural damage. Those that destroy softwood are easier to control. Control techniques depend on the kind of wood where the infestation occurs. 

Carpenter Bees
Bees that bore through wood? As if it wasn't bad enough already, with all the other wood damaging insects!  These wood-boring bees resemble bumble bees. They only differ by the glossy appearance of their abdomen which is caused by the absence of visible hairs. They bring destruction to homes by excavating unpainted and weathered wooden home parts like doors, railings, decks, roof eaves, fences, untreated poles, and wooden outdoor furniture. Residual insecticides can be sprayed in areas where this pest is active. 

Is your house plagued with one of these wood-damaging insects? Let Jersey City Exterminators help you. Our experience and highly-trained technicians can provide effective and targeted pest control measures that will effectively eliminate wood borers. Early intervention can prevent these pests from destroying your home. Call us today about your termite problem at (201) 460-6068.