That fine dust under your furniture: borer fumigation in Glentana

You sweep up a small heap of pale powder under the old yellowwood chest. A week later it's back, and there are tiny round holes in the legs. That's wood borer, and if the dust is fresh, the larvae are still eating inside the timber. Fumigation is the reliable way to kill them, because the gas gets into the wood where no spray or polish can.

Is the borer still active?

This is the first question to answer, because old damage doesn't need treating. Look for:

• Fresh, light-coloured powder (called frass) below the holes, especially if it returns after cleaning.
• Clean-edged holes that look sharp and pale inside, rather than dark and worn.
• Small beetles on windowsills near the furniture, usually in the warmer months.

Dark holes with no new powder may be left over from an infestation that died out years ago. Brush the area clean, check again in a few weeks, and only call us if the dust comes back.

Why we see it in Glentana homes

Glentana is a small cliff-top village, and many homes are holiday or retirement houses. That brings two things borer likes. Retirement homes often hold older solid-wood furniture, sometimes inherited, sometimes bought second-hand, and one infested piece can spread to others over the years. Holiday homes, meanwhile, are shut for long spells, and sea air in a closed house means damp timber. Many common borers prefer wood with some moisture in it.

When fumigation is the answer, and when it isn't

Fumigation makes sense when borer is inside furniture or loose timber items, or when stored goods such as boxed belongings, linen or a pantry full of dry food are infested right through. It's not the answer for ants, fishmoths or spiders in the house; those need an ordinary insect treatment, with no need to move out. Borer in structural roof timbers is assessed separately, because the right approach depends on the building.

How a fumigation works

1. We assess the job. One affected piece can usually be sealed under gas-proof sheeting on its own. If several pieces in a room are affected, sealing the room may be better.
2. We seal it. Sheeting is sealed down, or doors, windows and vents are taped and sealed.
3. We apply the fumigant. A registered fumigant such as phosphine goes in, and the space stays sealed for the full exposure time on the label, usually a few days.
4. We clear it. The space is ventilated and checked before anyone uses it again.

Important: the sealed area must be vacated, with no people or pets inside, until we've cleared it. If we're fumigating a whole room, that room stays closed throughout. This is work for trained, registered operators only.

Getting ready for the day

We'll give you a clear list for your job, but in general:

• Arrange for everyone, including pets, to be out of the area being treated.
• Tell us about anything valuable or sensitive in the space so we can advise on it.
• Clear access around the furniture so it can be sheeted and sealed.
• Plan where you'll be for the exposure time if a lived-in room is being done.

A local tip after treatment

If your Glentana house stands closed for months, ventilate it when you can and keep furniture a little away from damp outside walls. Drier timber is less inviting to borer, and you'll also have fewer problems with mould and fishmoths. Check any second-hand piece for fresh holes and powder before you carry it inside.

A common misunderstanding

Filling the holes with wax or varnishing over them doesn't stop borer. The larvae are deep inside, and they'll simply chew new exit holes when they're ready to emerge. Treat first, then repair the finish. And moving the piece into the garage doesn't solve anything either: the larvae carry on, and when the beetles emerge they can lay eggs in whatever other timber is stored out there.

How much will it cost?

It comes down to how many items or how much space we're treating, how easily it seals and how established the borer is. Fumigating one chest under a sheet is a modest job; a room full of affected furniture is more work. We'll quote free after seeing it, and if the damage turns out to be old and inactive, we'll tell you that you don't need us.

For more on how we fumigate homes, warehouses and stored products across the region, see fumigation in George. Call 044 012 5011 to talk to our team. We're SAPCA registered, with more than 25 years in the Garden Route.