Woodworm is the name of a specific group of beetles that we know of. There are different types, but they all have something in common: they feed mainly on wood. These beetles can cause a lot of problems at home because they feed on wood. There are numerous ways to remove woodworm, but some are more effective than others. Here we are going to teach you how to remove woodworm with vinegar an effective form.
In this article we are going to explain what are the steps that you must take into account to learn how to eliminate woodworm with vinegar.
Woodworm characteristics
These insects (which feed on wood) are called xylophiles. The origin of the word comes from Latin and is formed by the words xilo (wood) and fago (feed, eat). With this name, the objectives and preferences of these wood-eating insects are clear.
We must know that the woodworm exerts its destructive effects mainly in the larval stage. It is at this stage of their development that food needs are greatest and most urgent. For this reason, insects develop significant aggressiveness towards wood during this growth stage.
In its adult stage, the woodworm (also called wood moth in some countries) passes from the larval stage to the coleopteran stage. That's when you review and change your habits. And this is clearly reflected in his dietary needs: he no longer eats wood (in fact, he no longer eats any food). Therefore, from then on, she will put aside her destructive actions against him.
This does not mean that the adult woodworm should not be treated and tried to eliminate it, if it lays eggs in the wood of our home, the larvae will be a serious problem in its natural feeding behavior.
Why do woodworms feed on wood?
When they are in the larval stage, these different types of beetles have a series of bacteria with very specific properties in their digestive system: those that process cellulose, a type of substance that is always present in wood.
In the same way, certain types of these xylophagous insects possess enzymes that even allow them to break down cellulose.
Interestingly, there is also a woodworm that does not feed on the wood itself... its function is to feed on the various fungi that appear on the wood while it is in a state of decomposition.
It is important to note that woodworm always prefers soft woods such as pine or cedar... Tropical woods (teak, mahogany, ipe, etc...) are resistant to these insects and will never be attacked by this type of insect. This is due to the high hardness of this wood, which makes it difficult for the larvae to bite and chew.
These xylophagous insects prefer “dead” wood, whether it is the one that makes up a structure, furniture or beam, or the one that belongs to fallen tree trunks and is in a state of decomposition. The "living" wood, the one that is still in the tree, that is, the tree itself, is not attacked by these xylophagous bugs.
How to remove woodworm with vinegar
Incredible as it sounds, it is a beetle-like insect that lives on wood. So this can be a problem for the furniture in our home. This little insect can become a big nuisance in our day to day life, as we told you: it can wreak havoc on our decoration style.
It is very small, brown and cylindrical in shape. Incredible as it may seem, many people have no idea what it is and it can affect anyone in every corner of their home. We talked about these "bugs" that feed on wooden furniture, but don't worry because you will learn how to eliminate woodworm with vinegar.
You should check if this infection is active. To do this, we must see that a yellowish powder can be seen in the holes left by these termites, and if so, it is because they are alive and are eating your furniture.
There are different types of woodworm:
- Anabids: They are very small and cause a lot of indignation in our furniture. They have a tiny chin and three blades, are slightly curved, and are brown in color. It appears in the nearest wooden crack. They are the most common.
- From the parquet: They are usually found on hard, moist surfaces. A little bigger than the previous ones, but they have the same destructive power. They are white and leave a very fine powder when eaten.
- Big ones: They lay their eggs on the bark, compared to the other two, they are very large and can measure from 1,2mm to 10mm. But it usually does not re-infect the wood in any way.
This treatment is very simple and easy to implement, and just a few pieces of equipment that you can get at home are enough to achieve the goal: to kill this intruder. In addition, we tell you that you have to be disciplined when it comes to eliminating these beetles because they do not disappear overnight.
You need few materials:
- White vinegar: It is used to repel insects.
- Isopropyl alcohol (You can get it at the market or pharmacy).
- Lemon
The combination of these three ingredients will do wonders to eradicate the plague. In addition, if possible, you should have a wide brush, a container and a spray bottle at hand. An important fact: Moths first hide in the nooks and crannies of furniture, therefore these aspects should be emphasized when using vinegar for extermination.
How to remove woodworm with vinegar step by step
Now, we will give you a step by step to get rid of woodworm with vinegar, very easy to do. Once you have confirmed that it is infested with termites, you can use this method:
- Pour white vinegar into a bowl.
- Put a few drops of lemon (about 3 or 4 drops).
- Add a tablespoon of alcohol to the mixture.
- Mix for a few minutes.
- Then remove the mixture on the affected surface, as we mentioned in the previous section, cover the corners and each hole that the insects have made.
- Let stand for 24 hours.
- Repeat this process about 3 times to increase the effect.
That's all, if you see that the problem persists, you will have to resort to other more aggressive means to attack the pest. But you can't just use this method, you can find other ways to use vinegar to get rid of psyllids online, which will be helpful. We recommend this as it is fast and effective. You can also mix it with water, hot or cold.
Vinegar is not only a food companion, it can also be used to destroy insects, it is also widely used in household cleaning, and it has several properties that can help you in any situation. Its properties help disinfect any space and can even be used to treat fungus on human skin. Its multiple benefits are as follows:
- Unlike those expensive cleaning products, is very cheap.
- It is natural, its preparation is simple, it does not contain chemical products, it simply goes through a fermentation process.
- It can help you with many household chores.
- Isolate fungi, bacteria from contaminated surfaces.
- Whiten dark areas.
- It has no side effects.
- It is an excellent antioxidant.
These are some of the most relevant advantages that can be found in this product. This makes it the king of other potentially very dangerous and infectious chemicals.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about how to eliminate woodworm with vinegar