death watch beetle

[Sal]

hi long time no.. read.

as I sit here at my pc.. i can hear the lovely tap tap tapping of active and alive DWB....

what is the recommended done thing?

 

[biffvernon]

Ah, How sweet. It must be springtime and they are looking for mates.

 

[middi]

Condoms ?.

Unless, Matt Green, the expert contributor on this site in these matters has a better solution.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Grandfather clock placed against the wall.

Will have no effect on their activities I guess, but you have a much more rhythmic and lovely tapping noise to listen to.

 

[Carol]

Tap back and wait for the little blighter to find its way out, then squash it! Then make sure there is no water ingress where the sound came from, they love damp oak. This was the conservation method recommended to us by an EH chap.

 

[Nemesis]

A spot of reading matter:

http://www.ridoutassociates.co.uk/articles/article01a.htm

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15621136.100-knock-knock-whos-there--stephanie-pain-and-has-she-got-bad-newsfor-deathwatch-beetles---.html

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/eradication/eradication.htm

I am sure Matt can update when he read this.


"

Timber decay and damp consultants, environmental monitoring and scientific research. Includes descriptions of services, articles, news and publications. Also deathwatch beetle light trap sales."[/quote]

Beetle screen light traps

Due to escalating costs, we have decided to cease production of Beetle Screen Light Traps. However, we are still able to supply replacement sticky pads and bulbs for customers who have existing traps.

[/quote]

 

[Matt Green]

Deathwatch beetles need a raised timber moisture content (than would normally be found in a watertight lived-in house), so work out how the timber is getting wet and then weigh up if fixing it is a reasonable prospect. In timber-framed houses, sole plates and rafter plates are usual suspects for activity as are timbers encased behind, or next to panels of, cement render.

Drying is the best way to deal with the insects, they inhabit sections of timber that are embedded in walls or are otherwise very difficult to get insecticide to. It's very easy to inflict more damage trying to treat deathwatch than the beetles would cause themselves. The damage they cause is a slow process, so there's no need to lurch into half-hearted action. Sort the wet timber out and the rest is easy.

Work out were the tapping is coming from and where you are seeing insects (they fly towards UV light, so check windowsills), and sort out which timbers are likely to be getting wet, work out why, then fix it. Then wait a few years for the resident population to die. Reasonably painless, as any works done should help the fabric of the house to work as intended and address the cause of the problem (water) rather than the symptom (beetles).


Matt.

 

[Sal]

thanks for the replies. it is nice to have somewhere to ask where people don't over-react at the words 'damp' or 'death watch beetle'...

we moved in about erm... 18 months ago ish. the house is in a poor state.. and the chimney breast of one of the upstairs bedrooms had obvious signs of damp. Went up to attic to take a look when it was seriously raining (it seriously rains a lot here :roll: ) and there was water coming in down the chimney breast in the attic. We go a roofer round... last winter.. he said the flashings were not done right.. fixed them and its now obviously drier - It is now dry in attic.

The tapping is coming from the chimney breast area. Is it likely then.. assuming previous owner had left this situation for some time, that it will take some time for the wood to become dry again? that the problem will lessen with time now we have stopped the water coming in?

 

[biffvernon]

The tapping is the beetles doing a rain dance.

 

[middi]

..... :lol: :lol: :lol: ......

 

[Matt Green]

I would say you've taken the best course of action.

 

[Sal]

thanks very much for the advice. much appreciated.

 

[sue gazzard]

Any more advice on how to cope with the noise?? There's at least one of the little b*ggers hidden deep in my bedroom wall which is driving me nuts! BTW I'm not lucky enough to own a grandfather clock....

 

[Penners]

Click here

 

[sue gazzard]

Thanks Penners! Do it work tho.......... :lol:

 

[Penners]

Probably not as well as this.

But feel free to carry out trials and report back. :wink: