If you see little holes in your furniture, take this simple test:  stand the piece on newspaper for a week, tapping the affected area every day.  Small piles of sawdust known as “frass” indicate an active presence, and you should act before the beetles spread.  In fact, you may want to avoid putting newly acquire pieces into furnished rooms until you are certain that there is no infestation and/or treatment has been carried out.

The furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) will attack both modern and antique furniture and is also partial to wooden floors, panelling, and beams.  The adult female lays her eggs in cracks and crevices—one reason why cabinetmakers are taught to make surfaces and joint recesses as smooth as possible—and once hatched, the grubs burrow their way into the wood, creating a maze of galleries.

If woodworm is present, treatment should be taken and repeated after a few weeks to be certain the insecticide has killed the larvae, adult insects, and eggs.  If carrying out restoration, perform the second treatment before finishing, although quality insecticides will not harm finishes.  The most effective time is early spring:  adult females will not lay eggs on treated surfaces.

Working outside or in a well-ventilated space protected with plastic sheeting and newspaper and wearing spirit-resistant gloves, goggles, and mask, try to blow as much frass as possible out of the holes (a compressed-air camera cleaner works well).  Brush all surfaces with insecticide, following the manufacturer’s instructions.  Use a syringe to inject every hole with insecticide, making sure it penetrates completely (syringes and needles can often be bought at a veterinary clinic or speciality supplier).

For effective treatment, the insecticide should be allowed to be completely absorbed into the furniture (2 weeks) and then left to dry (1 week).

Since heat also helps kill woodworm, you can tightly wrap the piece of furniture in a plastic sheet (large trash bags work well, depending on the size of the item), and then place the item in a warm, sunny location for the 2-week absorption phase.  Unwrap the piece, and leave it out to dry in the same warm, sunny location for a week.

Woodworm insecticide can be bought in all home building supplies stores throughout Germany, including Toom and Praktiker, and go by names such as “Holzwurm Frei” (Woodworm Free) or “Holzwurm Tod” (Woodworm Death).

CAUTION:  The treatment is an insecticide, and isn’t recommended for items that will come into contact with food (e.g. dough bowls, bread boards, etc.).