Woodworm infested timber

Woodworm holes in timber from a horse chestnut tree, Aesculus hippocastanum. The picture shows holes at the surface of the wood. They are a cross sectional view of exit holes made by beetles as they emerged after up to 3 years spent as larvae tunnelling within the wood. The average diameter of the tunnels is 2mm.Woodworm is a generic term referring to damage caused by several species of wood-boring insect. The most common \woodworm\" that produces holes of about 2mm in diameter is the furniture beetle, Anobium punctatum. Eggs are laid in surface crevices, and the larva bores into the wood. This is the usual source of woodworm damage within houses. In stored timber outside, as here, almost indistinguishable damage can also be caused by the powder post beetle, Lyctus brunneus. The adults, if seen, can be identified by differences in their antennae."