Wood is used in the construction of every building around the world. This makes it one of the most important elements on earth, which in turn makes wood-eating pests one of the most destructive creatures in the world. However, every insect that eats wood is not a pest, but some of them can cause extensive damage.
Wood-eating pests can be found everywhere. These creatures are more than just a pest. It is important to know that they perform vital ecological functions that are necessary to balance the health of the ecosystem they live in. However, if they are invading your house and causing havoc, find the best service provider which is known for Damascus Pest Control today.
List of pests that love eating wood
Here are lists of pests that love eating wood and can cause potential harm to your house furniture.
1. Carpenter ants.
Carpenter ants cause thousands of dollars of damage to homes every year. These tiny creatures, measuring about 0.5 inches, do not consume wood. They eat through it to create their homes. They prefer feeding on soft, damp wood and areas around spas or swimming pools, and water sources, including dishwashers, sinks, and toilets. If you see flying ants around your home, it is a sign that you have an infestation.
2. Termites.
Termites are one of the most common wood-eating insects around the world and can be found anywhere except Antarctica. They have been known to exist since the Jurassic period. They are highly social and prefer to live in colonies like ants and feed on cellulose. They are not closely related to other social insects as much as they are related to cockroaches.
3. Carpenter bees.
Unlike carpenter ants and termites, carpenter bees do not live in colonies. They are categorized as solitary insects. However, their numbers can still grow to a large extent if given enough time. They do so by creating additional nesting chambers in the wooden structure in which they are hatched. They have a queen with a colony hierarchy rather than a monarchy with a queen. Once their generations are hatched, they can cause immense damage to a wooden property.
4. Furniture beetles.
Furniture beetles are also known as woodworms. They prefer a moist environment and feed on damp, moist woods. They are often found in wood siding and wood flooring. These creatures are about ¼ inch long, oval-shaped, and reddish brown. Their wings are marked by grooves and segmented antennae. However, they do not fly very often. They eat through the wood and leave behind powdery frass, which grubs feed upon.
5. Wood Boring Weevils.
You can recognize a wood-boring weevil as they have long snouts hanging off their head. This feature makes them stand out from other pests. Wood boring weevils are known to be the least problematic species since they feed on woods that are infected by a special type of fungus. These infected woods are discarded from the industry and not used in the production of wood products.
These are some insects that attack wood. Some may be less harmful but some, such as termites, can cause huge destruction. If you notice any damage to your wooden property, call pest control today.