An example of Death Watch Beetle and wet rot decay caused by one of the group of wood rots known as the 'white rots', from a converted farm house in North Yorkshire. Guidance given by Bryan Hindle CSRT CSSW of Yorkshire based Property Care Association member Brick-Tie Preservation
Death Watch Beetle Xestobium rufovillosum. attacks hardwoods. It prefers timber attacked by fungal decay and is often associated with the Stringy Oak Rot fungus Donkioporia expansa. That is a wet rot of the white rot family. The damage done by a combination of Death Watch Beetle and wet rot can be total -often, as in this case, the timber is totally destroyed. The cause of the decay is usually a leaking roof or penetrating rainwater due to defects in gutters, down pipes and also very poor pointing on westerly gables.
Treatment for Death Watch Beetle includes pressure injections of insecticides and of course repairs to dry down the timbers. One important thing to note is that Death Watch Beetle has a long life cycle and the adults will often mate and lay eggs within voids in the large timbers it attacks. This means that mere surface spraying of infested timbers is rarely effective because surface treatments kill of insect infestation by killing 'on emergence' With Death Watch Beetle emerging into untreated subterranean voids - mating and egg laying may continue to further generations. Research has shown that considerable damage can still happen long after the external surfaces of infested wood has been treated. The location of voids can be found and treatment better targeted by using micro-drilling to investigate larger section beams and trusses. Brick-Tie use an advanced micro-drill (sibtec digital micro-probe), which is used to build up a 3D picture of the timbers condition in depth, leaving only 1.5mm holes where the probes are inserted. Specialist advice from our surveying team is recommended.
Brick-Tie Preservation are available for timber infestation surveys across Yorkshire visit [ Ссылка ] or call 0800 591 541 for free expert advice
