Shashel beetle: how to get rid of a hidden wood eater

What does the shashel look like: photo

Description of the beetle

Name: Shashel or furniture grinder
Latin: Anobium punctatum

Class: Insects - Insecta
Squad: Coleoptera - Coleoptera
Family: Grinder beetles - Anobiidae

	Habitats:	wooden surfaces, furniture
	Dangerous for:	any wood
	Means of destruction:	temperature effects, tapping

Shashel - small beetle, white, its body length is up to 9 mm. Its neck is covered with white hairs and has two black bumps on it. But for wooden surfaces, not beetles, but their larvae, are of particular danger.

Shashel beetle.

They are only 4 mm long. But in the larval stage, they can stay for several years and gnaw through kilometers of passages in the wood. During the time that the larvae turn into pupae, the inside of the wood turns into fine dust.

Unlike other larvae bark beetles, the waste products of the shashel do not spill out, and it is not easy to notice damage to the wood.

Harm

Bark beetle larvae are omnivorous, and they like any kind of wood. They perfectly settle down both in external wooden designs, and in rooms.

During the period of growing up, the beetle can make a move 40 km long.

How to determine the presence of shashel

The shashel beetle gnaws a small hole in the wood, up to 10 mm in diameter, and traces of drilling flour can be seen near it. There may be several such moves, and upon careful examination, they can be seen.

While making moves, the larvae make a sound similar to ticking, if you listen carefully, you can hear these sounds, since the larvae feed constantly.

Visually immediately notice the infection is very difficult. They eat wood inside without showing signs of presence.

Methods of struggle

What means to choose to combat shashel depends on the scale of the lesion. Modern available means are very different, from modern devices to folk methods. This is a treatment with microwave radiation, insecticides, fumigators. It is possible to douche or process wood with folk methods.

1. Microwave devices heat the deepest layers of wood up to 60 degrees and this treatment kills beetles, larvae and eggs.
2. For douching, a solution of sodium fluoride is used, which is poured into the passages with a syringe, and the entrance itself is closed with putty.
3. Processing with fumigators is a rather difficult method, and requires special skills. And it is better if it will be carried out by experienced specialists in this field.
   

   Shashel larva.

4. An effective folk method of dealing with shishel is considered to be tapping wooden surfaces. Especially if the entrance is hard to find. With a mallet or hammer, the entire wooden surface is tapped. After such treatment, the body of the larvae turns into mucus.
5. A mixture of 5 parts paraffin, 5 parts wax, 3 parts creolin and 100 parts lime turpentine is mixed and the surface of the wood is treated.
6. Mix kerosene with turpentine in a ratio of 1 to 3 and carefully treat the surface.

preventive measures

1. Fighting the bark beetle is not easy, it is much easier to prevent its penetration into the wood. It is important to regularly inspect wooden structures, 1-2 times a year.
2. Try to keep the room dry, because high humidity favorably affects the development of insects.
3. At detection of the slightest damage at once to carry out processing.
4. During construction, use high-quality treated wood, building materials with bark residues will lead to bark beetle infection.
5. Burn wood contaminated with skewer.

Conclusion

Fighting shachel is hard work. But subject to the rules for the construction and operation of wooden structures, the risk of infection can be minimized. Modern means of wood processing, when used, give a good result.