Woodworm Beetle: UK Species, Identification & What to Do
Meet the woodworm beetle: the UK species found in homes, how to tell them apart by size, holes and timber, and what to do once you know which one you have.
The woodworm beetle is not one insect but several. Each species has its own habits, and each leaves its own clues. Knowing which one you have decides how worried to be, and what to do next.
This guide covers the main UK species and the clues that tell them apart.
The four species most homes meet
Common furniture beetle
This is the usual culprit. The adult is small and brown, about 3 to 5mm long, and it leaves round holes about 1 to 2mm wide. It eats softwood and some hardwood, so it turns up in most homes. Read the full furniture beetle guide for details.
Death watch beetle
This species prefers old oak that has been damp. Its holes are about 2 to 3mm wide, and the adults tap on the wood in spring. It is rare in modern homes, but it can do serious harm in historic buildings. See the death watch beetle guide.
House longhorn beetle
This large beetle eats softwood roof timbers. Its holes are oval and about 6 to 10mm wide. It is mostly found in parts of Surrey and nearby, so most homes will never meet it, although the damage can be severe. See the house longhorn guide.
Powderpost beetle
This species eats the sapwood of new hardwood. It leaves flour-fine dust and tiny holes, and it often fades once the starch runs out, because it needs starch to grow. See the powderpost beetle guide.
Two minor species
The wood-boring weevil follows damp, rotting wood. It tells you that something is wet. The bark borer lives in bark and rarely needs treatment, although people often mistake it for furniture beetle.
How to tell them apart
Use four clues, because no single clue is certain:
- Hole size and shape. Small and round, wide and oval, or ragged.
- Timber. Softwood, old oak or new hardwood.
- Dust. Gritty, coarse pellets or flour-fine powder.
- Location. Floors, roof timbers, cellars or furniture.
The species guide puts these clues in one table, while the profiles give more detail.
Why the species matters
The species decides the method and the cost. Furniture beetle in open joists usually needs only a spray. Death watch beetle in oak needs specialist care, and it may need repair. For that reason, ask a surveyor to name the beetle before you buy any product.
When the beetle is active
Beetles fly in late spring and summer. That is when you may see them near windows, and when fresh holes appear. If you find signs, read how to treat woodworm and check the signs of woodworm.
If you cannot tell which beetle you have, request a survey. It is the quickest way to a clear answer.
Local housing changes the risk. Read about woodworm treatment in Sheffield and woodworm treatment in Nottingham to see what affects homes in each area.
To go deeper, read about the common furniture beetle and the death watch beetle, because the right method depends on the beetle.