A small heap of flour-fine powder under a wardrobe, and a scatter of pinholes across the surface, is the classic wood borer signature. The powder is frass pushed out as the larvae tunnel inside the timber, and the holes are exit holes made by adult beetles leaving — which means the infestation started long before you noticed it.
People often confuse this with termite work. The two need completely different treatments, so identifying it correctly matters.
Wood borer or termite? How to tell
- Borer: round pinholes, 1–2 mm, on the wood surface with dry powder below them
- Borer: damage stays inside the timber; the surface looks intact apart from the holes
- Termite: no clean pinholes, but mud tubes on walls, skirting and the back of furniture
- Termite: hollow-sounding wood, blistered paint and soil-packed galleries inside
- Borer powder is fine and dry; termite galleries hold damp mud and soil
What gets attacked
- Plywood and low-grade seasoned timber in wardrobes and kitchen units
- Door and window frames, especially on the unpainted inner face
- Wooden beading, paneling and false ceiling framework
- Antique and imported furniture brought into the home
- Packing crates and pallets stored in godowns and shops
How borer treatment is carried out
Treatment is applied into the wood, not onto it. The affected timber is injected through the existing exit holes and along the grain so the chemical reaches the tunnels where the larvae are feeding, then the surface is treated to deal with beetles that emerge afterwards.
Because the life cycle runs inside the timber and can take months, a single visit rarely closes the case. A follow-up round is scheduled to catch the next emergence, and severely honeycombed pieces are flagged for replacement — no treatment restores timber that has already lost its structure.
Preventing the next infestation
- Seal, polish or paint all faces of new woodwork, including the hidden back panel
- Insist on treated plywood for built-in wardrobes and kitchen carcasses
- Fix damp walls behind wardrobes — moisture makes timber attractive
- Inspect second-hand and antique furniture for pinholes before it comes in
- Do not store old crates, boards or firewood inside the flat or loft
Frequently asked questions
Does polishing over the holes solve it?
No. Polish only closes the surface. The larvae are tunnelling inside the timber and will keep working; new exit holes appear through the polish within months.
Will one treatment finish the borer?
Usually not. The insect develops inside the wood over a long cycle, so a follow-up round is planned to deal with beetles that emerge after the first treatment.
Can the furniture be saved?
Timber that is still solid responds well to injection treatment. Pieces that have been hollowed out and crumble under pressure need replacement, and we tell you that at inspection rather than after.