Borer Information – All About Termite Management & General Pest Control

Borer Damage

It is important to note that the damage caused by termites & wood borers is significantly different & must be assessed by a licensed professional. Borer damage can be the result of an adult beetle boring into the sapwood &/or the heartwood of a timber. The female will then lay her eggs at the end of these galleries. Another result of borer damage is by the female laying her eggs into cracks or old flight holes. The larvae may then tunnel through the sapwood, moving closer to the surface of the timber to begin its pupil stage.

Certain types of borers have the potential to attack building timbers that have been in service for up to 20 years. Some species of borer only attack moist timbers that have been recently felled & will only continue to reinfest until this timber has been seasoned (timber dried to a stable moisture content of approximately 10 to 15%). Some borers will be sensitive to heat & will only attack floor & wall paneling avoiding the higher temperature areas such as the timbers in your roof void.

Today’s methods of milling timber often reduces the possibilities of attack as it is now a requirement in QLD & NSW that all structural timbers have no more than 25% of untreated susceptible sapwood. These changes to building practices have decreased the risk of attack to timber in service and reports of damage have become less frequent over the years. However evidence of borer damage may exist & it is for this reason that it should only be assessed by a licensed technician.