Wood treatments

The problem Our solution + info contract

Solution for problems with termites, woodworms, other insects and fungi.

The problem

Wood eating insects are very dangerous. The most frequent wood eating bugs are termites and woodworms. They infest every kind of wooden element of a building, like timber and beams, doors and furniture up to window frames. The wood´s durability, including the most resistant woods, can not prevent the decay that is caused by biotic or atmospheric factors.

Factors that contribute to the decay of wood are mainly insects and fungi that digest wood and nest in it. Termites and woodworms are the most common insects.

Wood pests produce severe damages in wood, because they digest the components of the cell walls, causing the decay of the wood. The result is a loss of density and strength, as well as structural changes. This is difficult to detect in the early stages of an infestation, as the pests are difficult to spot and hidden in the wood´s inner structure. Depending on the stage the wood starts losing strength, until it is destroyed completely in its structure, losing its mechanical qualities and support function.

The presence of wood bugs can often be detected through the exit holes that appear when insects like woodworm or Capricornus hatch. In the case of the termite, through the appearance of brown tunnels the termites use to move inside the wood. Furthermore, when you knock the wood and it sounds hollow, a wood pest infestation is very likely.

Wood-decay fungi are organisms that destroy the wood. Each species requieres a different treatment. The decay fungi grow on and inside the wood and weaken it. The release of enzymes leads to the decay of its different components.

Our solution

Infested wood can be treated through the elimination of the wood eating insects and fungi that cause the decay of the wood.

The technical staff of Illes Control performs inspections to detect wood pest infestations in your home or business premises. The inspections allow us to evaluate the factors that lead to the appearance and distribution of the pest. Our technician is able to detect wood pest infestations in your home or business premises through acoustic and visual tests.

In order to realise an inspection of a building to detect termites, woodworms, fungi and other harming organisms, some tools are indespensable for the technician: an expert eye and experience. Furthermore, different tools are used to examine the inside of the wood and obtain information that otherwise would not be visible.

Acoustic detector

A device to amplify the sound caused by termites and woodworms inside the wood. A useful device to detect termites, which sounds in the inside of wood are very distinctive. The animals` tapping against the walls of the wooden structur is typical for termites and warns their fellow members of the species of dangers.

Hygrometer

The hygrometer measures humidity as well in woods as in stone walls. For a risk analysis, it is recommended to determine the degree of moisture in a facility.
The device measures the moisture degree of the wood. The sensing electrode consists of needles jacketed with insulating material, without covering the point of the needle.
The device compares the electric conductivity of the wood with the moisture degree and displays it on a scale. An average moisture degree in wooden beams ranges between 14%-16%, depending on the type of wood and the geographical and individual location, as well as its function. (exterior, weather impact, protected location, etc.)

Motion detector

A device that uses microwaves to detect movements on the inside of building structures and wooden structures.
The device uses radar and measures movements up to a depth of 40 cm. The used microwaves are harmless. When the waves bounce back from an object like an insect, the device measures the distance and displays it in a graph. The more movement can be measured, the wider is the graph. This device is used on supporting walls, pillars, beams, frames, etc.

We have methods for wood treatment and preservation to preserve any type of wood.

Biological methods

Termite baits These products kill termite colonies by stopping the development and growth of the (worker) termites.

The bait is placed at control stations that are located in the areas the termites infest. They eat the biocide (termiticide), that affects the biological organism of the termite, which causes the whole colony to die.

The active substances of these baits are called IGRs and consist of synthetic molecules that have a great persistence and durability and do not have any influence on the ecosystem. These synthetic hormones disrupt a termites ability to molt, causing its death. It disrupts the chitin production (chitin is the main element for skeletal growth of the termite), alters it and complicates the development of the termite, which makes it an easy prey to its natural enemies.

Chemical methods

Spraying A treatment by spraying is convinient for raw, uncoated woods. The termites can be controlled by applying a protective coat of insecticide or fungicide on the woods´surface.

injection A treatment by injection is most convenient for structural elements like supporting beams, pillars, doorframes, etc. With this method, the whole wood that needs to be treated can be impregnated.

The treatment consists in the application of the insecticide/ fungicide with pressure valves. The valves are placed at a distance of aprox. 30 cm, with a drill bit of 9,5mm, to obtain an even distribution of the product on the wooden element. Number, distribution and size of the valves depend on the type of wood.

Physical methods

Microwaves At Illes Control, the wood treatment with microwaves is the physical method to kill wood-destroying pests. This system solves problems if facilities with stationary build wooden elements, that are difficult to disassemble, are infested: wooden floors, ceilings, beams, furniture, etc.

The technique is based on short waves that treat an infestation effectively, without causing structural damages. Therefor, it is a 100% secure system, that is odourless and environmentally friendly.

+ info

Termites

Termites are whitish-looking social insects that live on the ground and eat wood. Worldwide there are more than 2000 species, but in the Iberian Peninsula they are only known: the yellow neck or drywood termites known as Kalotermes flavicollis, and the subterranean termites known as Reticulitermes grassei and Reticulitermes banyulensis.

Termites that usually attack the wooden elements of a property are subterranean termites, so they live in the soil and not in the wood, and only resort to cellulosic elements to feed the rest of the colony under the soil.

A termite colony is made up of individuals of different castes. The castes differ both in their appearance and in the function they perform within the colony. There are three different castes: workers, soldiers and breeders.

Drywood Termites

Generally, drywood termites of the genus Kalotermes fungicidae and Cryptotermes brevis are larger than subterranean termites. Unlike subterranean termites they need very little moisture and establish their colonies in the wood without establishing canals.

The main characteristics of their termite mounds are:

They can have between 1000 and 1500 individuals.

They are located inside the wood itself

Your queen has a hypertrophied abdomen.

Can be found anywhere there is wood (furniture, vases, trees, etc.)

Their faeces are little balls they leave in the wood.

They're small compared to subterranean termites.

The colonies are formed in spring and autumn by means of nuptial flights, in which they will fly up to the wood where they will create the colony. The infestation occurs in places close to that of the initial colony.

Subterranean Termites

They live in colonies that can count more than 2 million individuals. In each colony, the queen is the only one to lay eggs. Most of these insects lack wings but during the breeding season some develop these organs and leave the group to form their own colonies.

Carcoma

Unlike termites do not build nests, but lay eggs in the cracks of the wood and the larva is the one that eats the inside of the beams and furniture. Woodworm is a xylophagous insect that eats wood. The adult females lay eggs in the cracks and holes of the wood, from these eggs come small but voracious larvae, since instead of going out to the outside they penetrate in the wood veins gnawing long galleries. The presence of the woodworm is evident with the appearance of small holes, these are the exit holes of the larvae that arrived in summer have become chrysalis, hence the ideal time to treat them is between autumn and spring.

The size of the woodworm varies between 1.5 and 9 mm in length, the color of the body is usually brown or black and the eyes are large, very separated from each other. Adults have a short life span and lay their eggs in any type of crack.

Domestic Capricorn - Biology

Physical characteristics:

1-2,5 cm long
Brownish black with two grey dots
Good Flyer
Reproduction and development
Female lays about 200 eggs during her lifetime.
The chrysalis measures 2.5 cm.
The fully developed larvae measure 3 cm and are yellowish-white in colour.
The larval phase takes from 3 to 5 years and can reach 12 years.
The optimal conditions for the development of larvae is a temperature of 28 º C and high relative humidity.
The larvae attack coniferous wood (fir: sapwood and heartwood, larch and pine: sapwood).
Complete metamorphosis. The life cycle is between 3 and 12 years.

Habits

They feed on decaying vegetables. They live in fields and gardens under stones, barks, etc. and damp areas of buildings.

Damage

A spruce beam can be completely pulverized in a couple of years.

Propagation

By adult fliers and transport of infested matter.

Prevention

Use deciduous or coniferous wood.Paint or varnish coniferous wood.

Control and monitoring

1º check the resistance of the wood, if it is not, replace the damaged wood. Eliminate wood residues by burning them. Carefully examine the rest of the coniferous wood (flashlight, magnifying glass, razor, marker), open the galleries as much as possible and clean them with a metal brush. Remove all dust from lumber. Follow pesticide label instructions. ALWAYS treat wood with authorized xylophagous control products. Apply with a coarse droplet spray several times, with care that it does not drip. It is necessary to make a follow-up every year and to make a report of the situation.

Xylophagous mushrooms

Xylophagous fungi are organisms that rot wood. The fungi germinate in the wood and attack the wood through their penetration and also through the release of enzymes that are responsible for degrading the components of the wood.