What are Furniture Beetles?

Furniture beetles, also known as common woodworm beetles, are small wood-boring insects that infest and damage wooden furniture, flooring, and structural timbers. Adults are reddish-brown to dark brown and measure about 2.5 to 5 millimeters in length. While the adults are short-lived and cause little harm, the larvae are the real threat. Larvae bore deep into wood where they feed for years, leaving behind tunnels that weaken the structure. Infestations often go unnoticed until visible signs of damage appear.

Signs of Furniture Beetle Infestation

• Small round exit holes on the surface of wooden furniture or flooring
• Fine powder, also known as frass, found beneath or around infested wood
• Weak or crumbling wood that breaks easily when touched
• Adult beetles appearing near windows during warmer months
• Increased damage to antique or untreated wooden furniture

Why They are a Problem

Furniture beetles are destructive because their larvae feed on the inside of wooden structures for several years before emerging. This hidden damage weakens furniture, flooring, and even building supports. Infestations can lead to costly repairs or the loss of valuable antiques. If left untreated, furniture beetles can spread from one piece of wood to another, causing widespread damage throughout a property.

Where Do They Come From?

Furniture beetles often enter homes through infested second-hand furniture, antiques, or untreated wood products. They may also be introduced during construction or renovation if infected timber is used. Once indoors, they thrive in wood with higher moisture levels, such as poorly ventilated attics, basements, or crawl spaces. Warm temperatures in spring and summer trigger adult beetles to emerge and reproduce, starting new infestations.

How to Get Rid of Furniture Beetles at Home

If you are looking for how to get rid of furniture beetles, here are some steps you can try:

• Inspect all wooden furniture and structures for exit holes and frass
• Remove and discard severely infested items if repair is not possible
• Keep indoor areas dry and well-ventilated to reduce wood moisture levels
• Apply protective finishes such as varnish or sealant to untreated wood
• Vacuum wood surfaces to remove frass and prevent larvae from spreading
• Place small infested items in a freezer for several days to kill larvae

These methods can slow the spread of furniture beetles, but because the larvae live deep inside wood for years, professional treatment is often necessary for complete elimination.

Furniture Beetles vs Termites

Many people confuse furniture beetles vs termites since both attack wood. The key differences are:

• Furniture beetles create small round exit holes and produce fine powdery frass, while termites build mud tubes and leave rough, packed tunnels inside wood.
• Termites eat wood as their food source, while furniture beetle larvae only tunnel through it as they grow.
• Termites live in colonies with visible swarmers, while furniture beetles are usually detected by the damage they leave behind.

How We Can Help

At Go Away Pest & Wildlife Control, we specialize in identifying and eliminating furniture beetle infestations. Our team locates the affected areas, applies safe and effective treatments that target larvae inside the wood, and provides guidance on protecting your property from future infestations. We also help improve ventilation and moisture control to make your home less attractive to wood-boring pests. With our expertise, you can preserve your furniture, protect your investment, and stop furniture beetles before they cause more damage.