What do old house borers look like?
Adult old house borers have long antennae, range in color from black to gray, and grow to be between ½ and ¾ of an inch in length. These insects have patches of fine gray hairs on their wings covers, patches of hair on their thorax, and two shiny raised areas on each side of their thorax. Their larvae are whitish in color and have three eyes on each side of their heads. Their worm-like bodies taper toward the posterior end; these larvae grow to about 1 ¼ inches in length.
Why are old house borers in my home?
Old house borers are a wood-boring insect whose larvae tunnel through and feed on the wood that they are infesting. These insects only feed on coniferous wood like pine and spruce. The adults lay their eggs in cracks and crevices of lumber and logs that are typically stored in lumber yards. This means that old borer infestations are often found in newly built homes 4 to 7 years after the construction process is completed. Infestations of old house borers are typically localized, but can spread throughout the entire home over time and can cause a significant amount of damage in a fairly short period of time.
Are old house borers dangerous?
Old house borers aren’t dangerous to people; however, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t dangerous pests. In fact, these insects are considered to be quite dangerous due to the structural damages they can impose inside the homes or the other structures they choose to invade. The tunnels made by the larvae have the potential to significantly weaken structural timbers and cause major and costly damages.
How do you get rid of old house borers?
Old house borers are difficult to identify and prevent because their presence typically isn’t detected right away. In fact, these pests aren’t usually found until they have had the chance to cause damages inside the wood that they have invaded. At Spencer Pest Services, we can get rid of old house borers from your property through highly-effective targeted services. Our pest control professionals have the experience and training needed to eliminate and control old house borer populations in your home and to prevent future infestations. Contact us today for specifics about our old house borer control services!
Old house borer prevention tips
Along with professional services, there are several things you can do in and around your home to prevent and deter old house borers. Prevention tips include:
- Make sure any lumber used inside your home has been kiln-dried to kill old house borer eggs and larva.
- Sand and treat any wood used in your home; adult old house borers typically don’t target treated wood as a place to lay their eggs.
- Keep the wood inside your home dry by maintaining heating and ventilation systems.
- Remove recently cut or dying wood from your property that could attract adult old house borers and provide them an area to lay their eggs in.