Woody plants and wood have a potential enemy: the larvae of several species of coleopterans that dig tunnels in their trunks, weakening them and, in very serious cases, ending their life. These insects are known as woodworm or quera, and you have to do what you can to avoid them. But what about?
This time I'm going to tell you everything you need to know about woodworm: characteristics, symptoms and also different ways of treating it.
Woodworm characteristics
Woodworm is an insect that lives all over the world. In its adult phase (see top photo) it is not harmful. It measures between 1,5 and 9mm in length, and its body color is usually brown or black. His eyes are large, separated from each other. They have a very short life.
The eggs are deposited in any crevice, and as soon as they hatch the worms begin to feed on the wood while digging tunnels through it. We must know that, although they rarely attack live plants, the risk is always present.
Which is the treatment?
An effective way to protect plants from woodworm is picking up a few acorns and wrapping them in tied cloth as if it were a sachet. During the hot summer months the adult insect will not hesitate to spawn on top of the fabric, keeping the trees safe. Thus, when the eggs hatch, they will pierce the acorns so that they will stay in them. During the next spring, these sacks have to be submerged in water to eliminate the larvae that may still be alive after winter.
If what we are interested in is preventing the furniture from spoiling, they must be treated with an anti-woodworm insecticide by brushing them, as if we wanted to paint them, from time to time.
We hope that these tips have been useful to you and that you have been able to forget about woodworm.