Old House Borer Identification & Prevention

Old house borers are wood-boring insects. The females lay their eggs in the cracks or crevices of wooden logs and rough lumber. After the larvae hatch, they begin to tunnel through the wood, using it as a food source. An old house borer infestation is often discovered because of the clicking sounds the larva make as they feed.

Adults grow to be about 1/2'” to ¾” long. They have long antennae and are black to gray in color. Patches of hair cover their wings covers and thorax. Old house borer larvae grow to about 1 ¼ inches, and the body tapers toward the backend. They are whitish and have three dark eyes on each side of the head.

The only good news when it comes to old house borers is they aren’t known to spread disease and pose no direct risks to people. However, these pests are very damaging to the structures of our homes. Typically an infestation is only discovered once the larvae are already eating through wood structures, causing damage.

To emerge from a piece of wood, the adults create holes in the exterior of a piece of wood that is about 1/4 of an inch in diameter which causes even more damage.

The most common reason for an old house borer infestation is that the timbers used in the original construction of your home were infested with eggs or larvae. Old house borers prefer thicker timbers, and the infestation tends to stay in localized areas. Old house borer infestations only spread throughout a home if there is a moisture problem, as they move towards water-damaged pieces of wood located throughout your home.

Moisture control from a reputable company can help mitigate any moisture problems you have.

Old house borers lay their eggs in crevices and cracks of logs and wood stored in lumberyards. This wood-boring pest is usually only found infesting newer construction homes rather than in older homes. Old house borers prefer to infest and feed on pine, spruce, and coniferous wood.

When dealing with pests like old house borers, getting help from a professional pest control expert is always a good idea. The highly-trained technicians at Albemarle Termite & Pest Control can help you eliminate old house borers and prevent them from returning. We pride ourselves on putting customers first and exceeding expectations. If you are looking to eliminate pests of any kind from your property, call Albemarle Termite & Pest Control today!

Keep your home in pristine condition and avoid problems with old house borers with the help of the following prevention tips.

• Make sure that lumber used within your home has been kiln-dried to kill any stage of old house borer that could be living inside of it.
• Any wood in or on your home should be sanded and stained or painted.
• Repair leaky pipes or fixtures located within your home that could cause wood to become damaged by water.
• Use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture levels in your home.
• Maintain heating and air-conditioning units to prevent moisture issues within your home.