Few critters are as destructive in your home as longhorn beetles. Especially if much of your home or interior is made of wood, you’re in for a treat. The larvae of the longhorn beetle will eat away at your wooden roof beams, floors, paneling and furniture. What do you do against these pests? Read these 9 tips, which many people have already used successfully.
Tip 1: Intervene early
If the larvae of the longhorn beetles have already spread throughout your home, it is extremely difficult to control the infestation. There are always a few beetles left somewhere, which can produce many eggs. From which then come new voracious larvae. Check your woodwork regularly and start fighting at the first signs of feeding!
Tip 2: Recognize the longhorn beetle
If you discover sawdust or see worm holes in your wood, something is wrong. But is it longhorn beetle, woodworm or some other critter? Look closely at the holes. If they are perpendicular to the wood, it is woodworm. Slanted holes mean you have longhorn beetle. That’s how you know you’re going to use the right control method.
Tip 3: Stay frosty under it
About sixteen degrees below zero, to be exact. Is there longhorn beetle in small wooden ornaments you don’t want to throw away? Wrap grandma’s jewelry box or chimney clock in a plastic bag, and put it in the freezer. Leave it in there for two weeks. Longhorn beetles have no superpowers – two weeks in the freezer is guaranteed to kill all the larvae in your beautiful heirlooms!
Tip 4: Try turpentine or petroleum first
Is there longhorn beetle in stuck wood? If there is very little damage left, you have a good chance you can combat the problem with these home remedies. Smear it on the spots where you see holes. The liquids soak into the wood, penetrate the bodies of the larvae and kill them without causing much inconvenience.
Tip 5: Use a spray with permethrin
Permethrin is a modern insecticide that attacks the nerves of the longhorn beetles, paralyzing them and killing them. This agent works selectively and is therefore not very toxic to humans or pets. Sprays containing permethrin intended for use against longhorn beetles or beetles can produce very good results, provided the insects are not too deep in the wood.
Tip 6: Give them a warm welcome
If the situation lends itself to it, you can heat the affected wood to 60 degrees. That’s more than the beetles can handle. The question, of course, is how to get the wood that hot – and keep it at that temperature for a while – without lighting a fire underneath. A better intervention at this point is to call a professional pest controller. Who will use one of the following two control methods.
Tip 7: Have a professional use poison
Pest control professionals who combat longhorn beetles may use heavy, but effective poisons that you won’t find at the garden center. These poisons have very good results. These insecticides are sprayed on the surface or, for more severe infestations, injected deep into the wood.
Tip 8: The heavy lifting: gas
Does the poison treatment of a qualified pest controller have no effect either? Is the affected area inaccessible, or is your entire home affected? Then it’s time for the last resort. Your home is sealed off and filled with toxic gas by the pest controller. This is a horse remedy – an expensive process that causes considerable inconvenience. We probably don’t need to explain to you that under no circumstances should you start working with gas yourself!!!
Tip 9: Deny them access
Have you got the firebugs under control? Then prevent them from coming back. Longhorn beetles hate varnished, painted or oiled wood. Treating your woodwork with one of these remedies will prevent the beetles from laying eggs on it.
