Death Watch Beetle

This Beetle is frequently found in historic buildings, churches, and cathedrals etc. The reason for this is that these buildings generally contain vast amounts of hardwoods such as Oak, which they prefer. Its name derived from the tapping sound the beetles make during the mating season – March – June it varies in size from around 6-9mm.

The life cycle is very similar to that of the common furniture beetle except the duration varies considerably. Although it is generally 5-7 years. Some infestations can last more than 15 years! Damage of a serious nature takes a very long time to occur and is usually compounded by the timber being wet and attacked by fungi. Before treatment is commenced any dampness should be cured, and weakened timbers repaired or renewed, as necessary. In common with other specialist treatment companies, because of the life cycle of Death Watch Beetle, it is not always possible to provide a guarantee of the long term effectiveness of treatment.

However, using modern chemicals and techniques, satisfactory control can be obtained. Sprayed chemicals do not penetrate very much below the surface of most timber, and therefore the beetle could remain active for many years deep in the timber. Fortunately there are other more effective methods now available to treat this type of infestation.