What Is the Effect of Borers on Timber?

Living Trees

• Borers such as the emerald ash borer attack living trees. The emerald ash borer creates S-shaped tunnels within the phloem of the tree. The phloem is responsible for transporting water and nutrients throughout the tree. Over time, the larvae of the borer will kill branches of the tree, and eventually the entire tree will succumb to the pest. In certain areas of the United States, the emerald ash borer has become a major issue, wiping out large populations of trees within various states.

Furniture, Hardwood flooring, Trim

• Borers that inhabit furniture, hardwood flooring and trim in a home cause structural damage to the pieces they infest. The borers create tunnels through the wood and create exit holes when the insect is fully matured. Damage done over time by the borers compromises the integrity of the wood, requiring it to be removed and replaced. It is important to react swiftly to control the infestation to keep further damage from occurring and to protect the other wood items within the home.

Identification

• There are a number of boring species of insects, including beetles, moths and ants. Each insect larva will leave a specific frass, which is the waste of the insect. Some borers, such as the lyctid borer, also called the powder post borer, leave a fine frass that is similar to the consistency of talc. According to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, most homeowners will notice the frass left behind by the larvae before seeing any larvae or exit holes.

Control

• Most infestations occur because the wood already had the eggs and larvae of the borer present within the wood prior to installation. Once the piece of wood has been infested, it is best to remove and replace the wood. Other methods of protecting the wood from infestation including staining, painting and sealing the wood. Unfinished wood is vulnerable to wood-boring insects. Insecticides and fumigation are additional alternatives to treat the wood; however, these methods are costly and involve the use of dangerous chemicals.