Thread: little critters in my timber

Looks like Lyctus borer. Rub the dust between your thumb and finger, if smooth like talc powder its lyctus. If course or gritty its beetle.
Safe treatment: Lyctus: Methyl Bromide. Furniture Beetle: Permethrin.

Thanks RustyNail. It is like talc. Sorry for a follow up question. Methyl bromide is a controlled chemical and only comes in 25kg bags, so probably not appropriate for me in a domestic garage. Would termite killer or similar from bunnings cut the mustard? or should I contact a pest control company? Seems like a fair bit of work for a few boards, but who knows they may turn into some furniture soon, as the lockdown and under employment has left me with some spare time.

Cheers

Rod

I would try fumitoxin, which is available as pellets from a produce store. It is used to gas rabbit warrens and also in grain silos to kill bugs etc.

Costs ~$25 a container.

Originally Posted by ranga_rod

Thanks RustyNail. It is like talc. Sorry for a follow up question. Methyl bromide is a controlled chemical and only comes in 25kg bags, so probably not appropriate for me in a domestic garage. Would termite killer or similar from bunnings cut the mustard? or should I contact a pest control company? Seems like a fair bit of work for a few boards, but who knows they may turn into some furniture soon, as the lockdown and under employment has left me with some spare time.

Cheers

Rod

Well that stuffs that. Apparently MB eats ozone. Unfortunately, anything else is either ineffective, too toxic or stains timber.
Lyctus is only a problem while the timber is green and contains starch (cellulose.) Once the timber is seasoned it is no longer a food source for the baby grubs. The importance of treating for borer at the initial stage of drying is critical.
I guess it very much depends how serious the infestation as to whether the timber will be usable.
One of the reasons I don't try to store susceptible species.

Hi ranga_ rod'

You could try this what an old woodworker told me. You can use Borax powder which you buy it in the supermarkets. The Borax you have to mix enough with water make into a paste paint it all over your timber that the critters are in and wrap the timber in black plastic and put the timber out in the hot sun for 1 to 2 weeks or longer. That is the safe way to do it. I hope that helps.

Graham

My wood carvings are rarely in pieces longer than 60 cm.
As such, if I encountered "bug wood," I have a cure.

My food freezer is -20C and big enough for the wood.
3-4 days in the freezer then warm up for 2-3 days then repeat several times.

The bugs can cope with -20C winters provided that they get a long run of cool/cold to prepare for winter.
I don't give the little bustards the chance. Plunge them into winter, thaw them out and do it again.
They can't anticipate nor cope with the swinging temperature schedule.

Thanks for all the tips. I have heard about the freezer, when the melbourne lockdown ends I might give that a go in my mates deep freeze! Failing that I will try the other tips.

Thanks all, stay safe (Out in the world of Covid and in the shed with power tools!)

Rod