House Longhorn Beetle - Hylotrupes bajulus

Click here for treatment prices and to buy - Ultra Timber Paste

In the UK House Longhorn Beetle was a Legally Notifiable Insect (being mainly confined to Europe at present) and should not be treated without the prior involvement of a qualified Specialist. We can offer that Specialist assistance, having two qualified members of Staff, David and Angela.

House longhorn beetle causes potentially serious damage to softwood roofing timbers within a specific area of south-east England. Preliminary results of a new BRE survey indicate that most infestations are still within the area where protective treatment of roof timbers is mandatory under the Building Regulations. However, scattered infestations were still found in Great London, Kent, Sussex and Hampshire. Properties built during the 1920s and 1930s were most commonly reported as infested. There have been no reports of infestations in roof timbers treated in compliance with the Regulations.

House Longhorn Beetle requires more than surface treatment to eradicate an attack, because the insects have a long life cycle and rarely visit the surface of the timber. Treatment of 'normal' woodworm (Anobium punctatum) consists of surface treatment, by brush or spray, which breaks the egg laying cycle. Because their life cycle is short (up to 5 years) and their holes are considerably smaller than House Longhorn Beetle, it is considered sufficient to treat the surfaces of the timber only - for House Longhorn Beetle this will not be effective.

So, a House Longhorn Beetle treatment must incorporate two additional features - internal injection treatment and weekly inspection.

Firstly, remove all loose material by brush and vacuum and ensure that the timber will absorb moisture. No surface treatment will penetrate varnish or paint. Next, drill injection holes in the 'active' damaged areas - test for these using a hammer first, listening for hollowness and then drill test holes. If in doubt call us - we can recommend a local professional company, if necessary.

The holes need to be blown or vacuumed out and then injected with Ultra Rapid Timber Paste. The holes can be capped with dowels, wood filler or plastic plugs.

Then finish with a surface treatment of either Boron Ultra Gel, or Boron Ultra 12 liquid at the 10% or higher concentration.

Check regularly for 'munching' sounds and re-inject active areas with Ultra Rapid Timber Paste.

SUMMARY

Habitat in buildings - Sapwood of most softwoods, particularly roofing timbers. Very occasionally found in softwood plywood.

Regulations - At present common only in area of England SW of London (mainly Surrey) where special Building Regulations exist to protect structural timber and prevent further spread. Small inactive infestations are common in buildings over 100 years old in London.

Special Features - with large infestations, larval feeding may be audible on warm days as scraping noise.

Emergence holes - few, large, oval, often ragged, 6 - 10 mm diameter.

Tunnels - oval, 6 - 10 mm diameter. Extensive and join up to cause almost complete disintegration of sapwood but leaving thin, intact, surface skin. Dust-filled tunnels may cause blisters or corrugations on surface of wood which may be observed with oblique lighting from torch.

Bore dust - cream-coloured, sausage-shaped pellets. Gritty when rubbed between fingers. Small chips and wood fibres may be present.

Likely misidentifications - Forest longhorn beetle, jewel beetle, wharf borer beetle, wood wasp, Tenebrionid beetle, Bostrychid powderpost beetle.

HOUSE LONGHORN BEETLE TREATMENTS

NOTE - House Longhorn requires injection of Ultra Timber Paste, as well as surface treatment (see below).

1. BORON ULTRA 12 - Surface Treatment

A unique powder concentrate, ready to dissolve in water, designed to treat timber by brush, roller or spray.. It avoids the hazard problems of many liquid preservatives by using only water as a carrier. It can also be used in most situations to replace other less ‘friendly’ contact type insecticides, including Permethrin. The powder can be dissolved in water in two main concentrations, depending on the intended use;

Concentration 1 - 0.5kg of powder dissolves in 12.5 litres of water, for normal common furniture beetle attack (woodworm, mild)

Concentration 2 - 1 kg of powder dissolves in 10 litres of water, for severe common furniture beetle attack and Dry Rot. Treats Dry Rot in timber and masonry, walls, floors and foundations. Also used as part of a House Longhorn Beetle treatment.

or, you can purchase a ready mixed product;

Ready to Use - 5 litres or 25 litres of Boron Ultra 12 - already dissolved in water, for severe common furniture beetle attack and Dry Rot, both timber treatment and irrigation of masonry & sub-site soil.

Click here for treatment prices and to buy - Boron Ultra 12

Powder is also available in 2.5kg packs - makes 62.5 litres for Woodworm Treatment or 25 litres for Dry Rot and Death Watch Beetle Treatments

Typical consumption rates - 2 timber floors, terraced house - 25 litres, or a roof, terraced house - 50 litres

How many litres will you need - click for more info.

Always follow the instructions on the product label, wear a dust mask when mixing and check with us before purchasing to ensure that you are buying the correct product.

Click here for treatment prices and to buy - Boron Ultra 12

2. ECOBOR ULTRA GEL 20 - extra Surface Treatment

A extra heavy duty 20% active clear Gel ideal for end grain and bearing area treatment of beams and joists. Add to surface treatment with Boron Ultra 12 in damp or heavily attacked areas. Also useful for medium to heavy active infestations of insect attack and treatment of new timbers for use in vulnerable areas (e.g. skirting boards).

Click here for treatment prices and to buy - Boron Ultra 12

3. ULTRA TIMBER PASTE - Deep Injected Treatment - for House Longhorn

An essential treatment for House Longhorn Beetle - Permethrin in an emulsion cream base. Has some odour and solvent. Do not use in buildings in proximity to fish or birds. Essential for deep seated active voracious House Longhorn Beetle, where the rate of destruction is too high and the moisture content of the wood is too low to spread the Boron based pastes fast enough to be effective.

Click here for treatment prices and to buy - Ultra Timber Paste

1. ECOBOR ULTRA GEL 20 - Surface Applied Gel

A heavy duty 20% active clear Gel ideal for end grain and bearing area treatment of beams and joists. Also useful for medium to heavy active infestations of insect attack and treatment of new timbers for use in vulnerable areas (e.g. skirting boards).

Click here for treatment prices and to buy - Boron Ultra 12

2. ULTRA TIMBER PASTE - Deep Injected Treatment - for dry wood

The only treatment for drier timber (under 12% TMC) - Permethrin in an emulsion cream base. Has some odour and solvent. Do not use in close proximity to fish or birds. Essential for deep seated active Death Watch Beetle, or the voracious House Longhorn Beetle, where the moisture content of the wood is too low to spread the Boron based paste.

Click here for treatment prices and to buy - Ultra Timber Paste

3. BORON ULTRA 78 - Deep Injected Treatment - for damp wood only

A unique SUPER STRENGTH paste using a special blend of technical grade glycols as carriers. It can be injected into timber, with the advantage of supplying a highly concentrated mobile preservative which will spread even at low moisture content levels. Simple to apply with a standard skeleton gun; more effective to use because of the higher available level of active content, which allows the use of smaller (8mm, rather than 10mm) and/or fewer drill holes.

Click here for treatment prices and to buy - Ultra Boron Paste

Technical Support

All 'Ultra Kit' products are supported technically with Method Statements and Specifications.

Contact us at: 01626 221301 or help@propertyrepairsystems.co.uk

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Property Repair Systems,

Unit 3, Olympus Business Park, Kingsteignton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2SN

T: 01626 221301 F: 01626 331143

E: help@propertyrepairsystems.co.uk

Other Property Repair Systems Sites:

www.boron.org.uk - how to use Boron based insecticides/fungicides to treat timber rots and insect attack

www.dampness-info.co.uk - how to treat penetrating dampness in walls and plaster

www.deck-treatment.co.uk - how to treat patio decks and yacht decks

www.dryrot.biz - how to cure and prevent Dry Rot

www.epoxy-info.co.uk - epoxies, polyesters and polyurethanes for all applications

www.joist-repair.co.uk - how to quickly repair joists and beams of any size

www.mold-info.co.uk - how to identify and treat moulds in buildings

www.timber.org.uk - systems of repair, with step by step methods

www.timber-repair.co.uk - how to repair timbers in buildings without wrecking the place

www.propertyrepairsystems.co.uk - fire paints, crack injection, metal fabrication, hygiene treatments