Can anyone identify these beetles?

[Sprotty]

I just brought a load of firewood into the house, and about an hour later started hearing pinging noises coming from the window, which turned out to be these beetles hitting the window.

 

The firewood was the source of the beetles, and after looking at some of the wood, there are a large number of woodworm type holes in some of them.

All the wood was felled and split within the last 18months, from what little I know about woodworm its life cycle is 3-4 years...

 

Is this something I should be concerned about?

Have I just infested the house with woodworm?

 

[New Forest DEAN]

You're going to have to provide more info - size, top view, sex etc (I'm kidding with the last one...).

 

I'm not an expert but googling British beetles was a minefield. But, it doesn't look like Death Watch (which produce the larger sized holes) in the pictures - try this link to an ID chart:

 

http://www.safeguardeurope.com/pdf_datasheets/woodworm_guide.pdf

 

I do know that most boring beetles don't like finished timber - paint, varnish etc (treated wood obviously), so they need access to untreated wood. How old is your house? do you have any un-finished furniture? etc

 

Hope this helps.

 

DEAN.

[Sprotty]

Sorry I meant to give the size. Its about 3mm long and has the distinctive flaring on the end of its antenna, which I can't reconcile against any of the woodworm species I can find pictures of.

 

As for the house its about 150yrs old, lots of rough cut wood hidden away from view for them to get there little teeth into...

[spudulike]

I have an idea, burn the wood and fast - looks like wood worm but I am no expert!

 

I would only bring in a nights burning a day and that way it will lower the chance of this little fella finding your joists and invading them with his mates:thumbdown:

[Charlieh]

is the firewood mainly ash???????

[Sprotty]

Now you mention it about half is ash from a tree that fell, and was left on the ground for about 6 months. Looking at the infested logs, it seems to be (mostly if not completely) confined to the ash.

[Sprotty]

A bit of googling later....

Are you thinking ash bark beetle?

 

A decent collection of Bug Pictures (sadly, not in english)

 

The first or second bug, looks like my guy?

 

Can't find a lot of information about them causing problems in houses, I guess they like ash? Not to fond of pine floor boards?

 

Anyone Know if they are a problem in a house?

 

[Charlieh]

most my ash felled last winter is full of them, no problem if you put the logs in a garage or store to dry out the beetles seem to disappear quick enough.

[hardtop110]

Ash bark beetle possibly

 

Ash Bark Beetle Leperisinus varius

[Sprotty]

Guess I'll just dry it properly and see what happens. Can't see any problems that people have had with them in the house, so hopefully in the clear.