In Reply to: help with my bali style wood furniture.. posted by rocha on Friday, 9. February 2007 at 09:17 Bali Time:
I just copied this from the site hope it helps.
For further information, contact the Freecall Hotline on 1800 084 881 or log onto www.ehb.wa.gov.au
What is it?
European House Borer (EHB), Hylotrupes bajulus Linnaeus,
is a destructive pest of seasoned coniferous timber
including pine, fir and spruce. If allowed to become
established it can cause major structural damage
to buildings.
Timbers commonly used for structural purposes in
Australia, including radiata pine, southern pine and
Douglas fi r, have been shown to be susceptible to
damage by EHB.
EHB most often infests roof timbers but is also known to infest architraves, door frames and timber articles such as pine furniture. Evidence of the pest can also be found in living trees with dried out branch stubs and damaged branches and trunks, dead trees and logs.
Exotic pest fact sheet
European Adult European House Borer - Picture not to scale
MARCH 2006
House Borer Response
Origins
EHB is found in Europe, the Middle East (Turkey), North Africa, South Africa, South America, the
United States, China and Asia Minor. EHB has been
detected several times in eastern Australia but
those infestations were eradicated by fumigation. It probably came into WA in a piece of timber as a
borer (larvae).
What to look for
The most visible evidence to indicate the structural
timber of a building or timber article is infested
with EHB are the presence of:
• Adult beetles which are brownish-black to black
and have a slightly fl attened appearance. The
beetle's wings are usually all black and may have
distinctive white patches. The top surface of the
fi rst body segment behind the head has two
raised, black, shiny knobs, like eyes. Adults are
about 8-25mm in length with antennae about
half as long as the body.
• Characteristic oval-shaped holes running with the grain on the surface of infested timber from which the adult beetle has emerged. Oval-shaped holes are about 5mm by 10mm in size.
• Frass, a mixture of fi ne powdery particles of wood dust and pellets of excrement, can sometimes be found on the fl oor below infested timber where adult beetles have emerged from holes.
• Galleries within the timber are formed by the
boring larvae and are frequently tightly packed
with frass. Galleries within the timber rarely
break through the surface of the timber and
therefore are seldom detected. However, long
blister-like swellings under the surface of the
thin layer of uneaten wood caused by the
tightly-packed frass may be evident.
Other evidence to indicate EHB timber infestation include:
• A soft scraping sound made by the larvae as
they feed, which can often be heard at night and
may be audible from some distance.
• EHB larvae within timber. Larvae are elongated
and cylindrical with an enlarged and fl attened
head. The length varies between 19-41mm and
about 7.5mm wide at maturity. Larvae can be
identifi ed by a row of three small black single-lens
eyes on each side of the head.
• Batches of up to 120 eggs which are laid in
crevices or cracks in timber.
1cm
R ESPONS E EHB
Some frequently-asked questions
Will my roof fall in?
To date EHB has not been reported or detected in any roofing structure. It is highly unlikely any house would be at immediate risk. The borer can take between two to 12 years to eat through timber, depending on the thickness of the timber and number of pests.
I am about to build, what should I put in my roof?
EHB only attacks untreated, seasoned pine. Treated pine and other roofing materials are not at risk from EHB. The Department of Housing and Works advice is not to use untreated pine for structural purposes. Seek advice from your builder about the most suitable option.
How to tell if there's treated pine in your roof
Ask your builder. Local councils also keep copies of housing plans. If you have a pine roof, first have your roof inspected regularly. If borer holes are found, call us on 1800 084 881 (free call) and we will send someone, at no cost, to identify whether it is EHB.
How do I know if I'm in an affected area?
Affected businesses and homeowners will be notified by letter, or can check the EHB website.
Why should I report EHB?
Pine timber construction, including houses, could be attacked and become structurally unsound and unsafe. If EHB becomes established it could cause immense problems for businesses, home-owners and WA's pine industry.
Where can I dispose of waste pine?
The EHB program has worked closely with local waste management facilities and they are trained to deal with the disposal of waste pine. Check with your local council.
Why wasn't it stopped by quarantine?
The borer is extremely hard to detect as it burrows into the wood. It is usually only when it emerges and leaves tell-tale borer holes that its presence becomes known.
Report any suspected EHB activity to your local
Department of Agriculture - Freecall Hotline
1800 084 881
For more information visit www.ehb.wa.gov.au
Spread
EHB has a relatively long larval period of one to 12 years, mostly spent within the timber. Adult EHB are considered to be strong fliers and can cover a considerable distance to infest new areas. The pest can live in a wide variety of climatic conditions, but it prefers temperate, coastal habitats.
Management
The public should not collect or move untreated pine. EHB is a quarantine pest and the only effective treatment once infected is fumigation with approved fumigants applied by licensed pest control operators. Timber can be effectively treated prior to use.
AGW234913
Disclaimer:
The material in this publication was prepared from the most up-to-date information available at the time of publication.
It is intended as a guide only and the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors.
Prepared by:
European House Borer Response. March 2006. (GS)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Department of Agriculture Western Australia Forest Products Commission
QUEENSLAND
Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries
NEW SOUTH WALES
State Forests of New South Wales
VICTORIA
Department of Sustainability & Environment
TASMANIA
Forestry Tasmania
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Forestry SA
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Department of Business,
Industry and Resource Development
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Environment ACT
COMMONWEALTH
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The European House Borer larvae. It can
often be heard chewing its way through timber.
- Picture not to scale
Close-up of adult beetle
exit hole.
- Picture not to scale (CD Pless and G Schweiger UT E&PP)
• Red dots show ‘Confirmed areas of EHB', as of February 2006
Larvae boring through timber.
- Picture not to scale
(Clemson University US)